THE 


uaOtennial  Bfcbrees 


OF  THE 


18i8bops  of  the  H.  WMi  Sburcb 


- TO  THE 


GENERAL.    CONFERENCE 


<tonwne&  in  Milminston,  m»  CM  flDa?  4ttvlS96. 


Read  sy  BISHOP  BENJ.  W.  ARNET'T. 


i 


•^^^CHEW,  PR    XENIA.O   ^^^S^t 


/I 


INDEX. 


Salutation : g- 

Congratulations 10 

Necrology 13 

The  Episcopal  Dead 14 

The  Publication  Department 16' 

Higher  Literature 20 

Repository 21 

Review 22 

What  Others  Think 25, 

The  Southern  Christian  Recorder  27 

Missionary  Department  1 28 

The  Mite  Missionary  Society 30 

Financial  Laws 33 

The  Financial  Department 36 

Educational  Department  39 

Endowment  Day 42 

Payne  Seminary    ! 43 

Ministerial  Education 44 

Educational  Progress  ' 45 

Union  Seminary  48 

Recommendations 48 

Sunday  School  Union 49 

Receipts  and  Expenditures  of  the  Sunday  School  Union  52 


Corporate  Wealth 53 

Church  Extension 54 

Things  to  Remember 55 

The  Seed  Time 58 

The  White  Ribbon : .. 59 

Christian  Co-operation 60 

Christian  Endeavor 61 

Is  the  Young  Man  Safe  62 

Our  Young  Women 64 

Mite  Missionary  Convention 64  A 

"  The  Voice  of  Missions" 64  D 

4i  Light  and  Love  '-' 64   D 

The  Twentieth  Century 65 

False  Accusation 65 

Divorces 66 

The  Hymnal 66 

Parliament  of  Religions 68 

Pedology 70 

Membership 71 

Pastors H 72 

Presiding  Elders 72 

Episcopal  Districts  73 

Foreign  Missionary  Wcrk 83 

Open  Fields ' 88 

Three  Bishops ; S8 

The  Methodist  Church  and  the  Race ; 88 

Centennial  Celebration 91 

The  H ar vest 92 


BISHOP  HENRY  M.  TURNER,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

Born  in  Newberry,  S.  C,  February  1st,  1833. 
Ordained  Bishop,  May  20th,  1880. 


i 


$ 


THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS 


OP  THI 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.   M-   E.  CHURCH. 


SALUTATION. 

Dear  Brethren,  Members  of  the  Twentieth  General  Conference  of 
the  African,  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Greeting  : 
Grace,  Mercy  and  Peace  from  God  our  Father,  and  from 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  presence  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  the 
Comforter  and  Guide  of  our  Fathers,  in  the  night  of  their 
bondage,  and  our  church  in  its  infancy,  our  Shield  and 
Buckler,  our  help  in  the  ages  that  are  past,  and  our  hope 
for  years  to  come. 

We  feel  a  deep  sense  of  gratitude  to  Almighty  God  for  His 
manifold  blessings  toward  us,  He  has  wonderfully  pre- 
served our  lives  and  watched  over  us  and  cared  for  us,  and  has 
continued  to  furnish  life,  health,  food,  shelter  and  rainment 
for  our  bodies,  knowledge  for  our  minds,  and  the  grace  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  for  our  hearts.  For  these 
^blessings  and  all  others,  we  thank  our  heavenly  Father 
who  has  led  us  by  His  counsel  and  protected  us  by  His 
omnipotent  arm ;  to  Him  be  the  glory  for  the  victories  we 
have  won,  for  the  golden  harvest  we  have  gathered,  for  the 
success  that  has  attended  the  preaching  of  His  word,  and 
for  the  answers  to  the  prayers  of  our  Fathers  in  preserving 
our  Country  and  its  Institutions. 

We  meet  as  veteran  soldiers  of  the  army  of  the  living 


10  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

God,  to  recount  the  weary  marches,  the  days  of  hunger  and 
nights  of  thirst,  the  struggles  on  many  a  field,  and  to  testify 
to  the  power  of  the  captain  of  our  salvation. 

Let  us  review  the  past  history  of  the  Church,  confer  as 
to  our  present  duty  and  future  action,  consult  the  Guide  book 
of  Pilgrim  man,  and  then  let  us  persevere  until  we  shall 
have  gained  the  victory. 

Brethren,  let  us  wait  on  the  Lord  and  get  our  orders  as 
from  His  own  lips,  and  then  let  us  pass  them  from  delegate 
to  delegate,  and  they  pass  it  from  church  to  church.  h\ 
short,  let  every  man  put  on  the  whole  armor  of  God  and 
fight  the  good  fight  of  faith,  laying  hold  on  eternal  life. 

CONGRATULATIONS. 

Dear  Brethren: — We  congratulate  you  as  citizens  of 
the  commonwealth  of  humanity,  that  we  live  in  an  age  of 
religous  liberty  and  toleration ;  an  age  of  comparative  theol- 
ogy, which  has  summoned  the  correlative  forces  of  religion 
before  the  bar  of  Public  Opinion  there  to  establish  their  claim 
to  the  right  of  public  confidence  and  favor.  In  every  contest 
whether  at  home  or  abroad,  it  has  been  demonstrated  that 
Revealed  Religion  is  superior  to  Natural  Religion  in  giving 
the  true  conception  of  Goc^-Sis  nature,  attributes,  and  rela- 
tions to  the  physical,  spiritual  and  intellectual  world, — 'the 
origin  of  matter  and  mind;  the  origin  of  man,  his  duty  and 
destiny ;  the  origin  of  evil,  its  effects  upon  the  physical, 
intellectual  and  spiritual  man;  the  remedy  for  evil;  the  orig- 
inating, meritorious  and  receiving  cause  of  salvation. 

The  co-ordinate  forces  of  Christianity  were  never  more 
united  than  at  this  time;  there  is  a  general  spirit  of  co-opera- 
tion on  the  general  lines  of  evangelization;  the  Evangelical 
Alliance  of  the  world  is  bringing  about  a  denominational 
reciprocity  of  respect  and  brotherly  love.  There  is  a  greater 
unity  of  action  on  the  great  subjects  now  than  has  ever  been 
before.  Never  in  the  history  of  the  world  were  the  auxiliary 
forces  of  the  Church  of  God  so  active  and  so  efficient.     The 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.   M.   E.   CHURCH.  11 

Missionary  Society,  the  Sunday  School,  the  Bible  Society, 
the  Tract  Society,  and  Religious  Press  are  furnishing  the 
world  with  a  living  ministry  and  an  open  Bible. 

The  strength  of  the  Church  is  seen  in  its  power  and  num- 
ber of  the  subsidized  forces  of  Christianity,  which  contribute 
directly  or  indirectly  to  the  support  and  spread  of  the  Gospel 
of  peace  and  goodwill.  In  fact,  they  modify  our  social, 
religious  and  political  life;  build  up  or  destroy  political  par- 
ties; found  institutions  of  learning,  harness  the  secular  press 
which  furnishes  Christian  literature  for  the  poor;  organize 
the  womanhood  of  the  race  into  an  army  to  light  the  foe  of 
home  and  country ;  called  young  men  and  young  women  of 
all  denominations  to  meet  beneath  the  shadow  of  the  cross  to 
declare  war  against  the  social  'evils  of  the  day,  and  finally  to 
encourage  denominational  loyalty. 

We  have  great  reason  to  rejoice  that  we  live  in  this  won- 
derful age  which  furnishes  us  with  so  many  opportunities  to 
do  good  and  to  work  for  the  elevation  of  our  race  and  the 
salvation  of  mankind. 

THE    OPEN    FIELDS. 

You  will  accept  our  hearty  congratulations  as  a  part  of 
the  family  of  Wesley  on  the  wonderful  success  that  has 
attended  the  progressive  movements  of  the  sons  of  Wesley, 
Asbury  and  Allen.  The  M.  E.  Church  and  the  M.  E.  Church 
South  are  marshalling  their  forces  to  bring  China  and  Japan 
under  the  influence  of  our  christian  civilization;  British 
Methodism  has  captured  Australia,  has  emancipated  the  Fiji 
Islands  and  are  stationing  the  watchmen  of  Zion  along  the 
borders  of  Egypt  and  the  Holy  Land ;  Canadian  Methodism 
has  captured  the  North  American  Indian,  who  has  thrown 
down  his  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife  and  now  smokes  his 
"  Pipe  of  Peace  "  beneath  the  shadow  of  the  cross. 

My  Brethren,  we  congratulate  you  that  all  the  fields  of 
labor  have  not  been  let  by  Providence ;  but  there  is  a  Mace- 
donian cry  coming  across  the  sea  from  Africa  calling  on  us 


12  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

to  come  over  and  occupy  the  land ;  calling  us  to  come  with 
our  name,  or  history,  our  trained  and  tried  men,  and  organize 
the  intellectual,  moral,  religious  and  commercial  forces  of  our 
ancestors.  We  have  letters  and  petitions  in  cur  possession 
asking  this  General  Conference  to  make  provision  and  come 
and  answer  the  prayers  of  our  brothers  and  our  sisters. 

Brethren,  we  trust  that  you  will  take  such  action  as  will 
strengthen  our  Foreign  work.  Hayti  and  San  Domingo 
want  to  feel  the  influence  of  our  church :  they  call  "  come  and 
help  us!"  The  new  born  freedman  of  South  and  Central 
America  are  calling  us  to  come  and  deliver  them  from  the 
power  of  Roman  Catholicism  and  ignorance. 

THE    MANTLE    OF    ELIJAH. 

God  has  given  His  Church  into  the  hands  of  Elisha;  the 
demands  of  the  age  and  the  duties  of  the  hour  are  asking, 
u  what  will  they  do  with  the  mantle  of  Elijah  ?  " 

The  members  of  the  church  below  and  the  saints  above 
are  saying,  0  what  will  they  do  with  the  mantle  of  Elijah  ? 

Jesus  Christ  who  purchased  His  Church  by  His  own 
blood,  by  the  opportunities  presented,  repeats  the  refrain : 
"  what  will  they  do  with  the  mantle  of  Elijah  ?  " 

The  Holy  Ghost  whispers  to  every  heart  —  "  what  will 
you  do  with  the  mantle  of  Elijah?" 

Honored  Brethren: — It  is  with  joy  and  thankfullness 
that  we  look  in  the  faces  of  the  members  of  this  General  Con- 
ference;  when  we  think  of  the  future  of  our  Church,  Race 
and  Country,  we  rejoice  at  the  presence  of  so  many  young, 
intelligent  and  consecrated  men, —  men  who  are  putting  on 
the  harness  of  governmental  responsibility,  the  bow  of  hope 
and  promise  arch  the  pathway  of  your  future  success.  While 
we  are  sitting  in  this  magnificent  temple,  the  true  and  tried 
members  of  our  Zion  are  praying  that  God  may  guide  us  in 
our  legislation,  and  the  world  is  saying :  "  what  will  they  do 
with  the  mantle  of  Elijah  ? " 

And  when  the  judgment  is  sety  and  all  nations  and  kin- 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  £.   CHURCH.  1$ 

dred  and  tongues  shall  appear  before  the  great  Assize,  and 
•all  men  will  stand  before  the  Judge  of  the  quick  and  the 
dead,  each  member,  pastor,  officer,  presiding  elder,  general 
officer  and  bishop  will  be  asked: — "  what  did  you  do  with 
the  mantle  of  Elijah?"  And  if  we  have  performed  our 
duties  honestly  and  faithfully, — if  we  have  opened  the  waters 
of  the  Jordons  of  opposition,  God  will  say  to  each  one  of  us: 
"  Well  done !  well  done,  good  and  faithful  servants,  you  have 
been  faithful  over  a  few  things,  I  will  make  you  ruler  over 
many  things.  Enter  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord."  "Thou 
didst  endanger  thy  life  on  the  coast  of  Africa;  now  Cuter 
into  my  kingdom !  Thou  didst  break  the  bread  of  life  to 
the  hungry;  now  partake  of  the  ambrosial  fruit  and  drink  of 
the  waters  of  life!  Thou  didst  leave  thy  home,  kindred  and 
friends ;  thou  shalt  meet  them  and  part  no  more." 

NECROLOGY. 

As  we  look  over  this  audience,  we  miss  the  familiar  faces 
of  many  who  had  graced  the  highest  counsels  of  the  Church 
for  a  quarter  and  a  half  century.  We  miss  some  men  that 
the  church  and  the  world  had  loved  to  hear,  honor  and 
obey;  they  are  no  more;  they  have  completed  their  task; 
their  labors  have  been  rewarded  and  have  entered  into  life 
eternal,  and  have  left  us  to  lead  on  the  moral,  religious  and 
educational  forces.  It  is  impossible  for  us  to  catalogue  the 
illustrious  dead ;  but  we  all  miss  the  venerable  Thos.  W. 
Stringer,  the  founder  of  our  work  in  the  Mississippi  Valley. 
When  about  to  leave  us,  August  1893,  he  said  :  "  Brethren, 
heaven's  just  a  mile  aw^ay  ! "  And  he  was  not ;  for  God  took 
him.  We  will  take  suitable  notice  of  other  members  of  the 
last  General  Conference  at  our  Memorial  Exercises. 

We  will  notice  their  life,  work  and  triumphant  death; 
we  will  give  them  a  Christian  Soldier's  burial.  We  will  hang 
the  lamp  of  hope  on  the  portals  of  their  tombs,  that  we 
might  clearly  see  our  way  to  the  gates  of  Immortality. 


14.  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

THE  EPISCOPAL  DEAD. 

A 

Bishop  John  Miflin  Brown,  D.  D.,  D.  C.  L.,  was  born  at 
Odessa,  Del.,  September  8th,  1817.  Died  at  Washington, 
D.  C,  March  16th,  1893.  Aged  75  years,  6  months  and  8 
days.  Buried  at  Washington,  D.  C,  March  20th,  1893. 
Served  in  the  ministry  57  years,  3  months  and  16  days. 
Bishop  24  years,  9  months  and  18  days. 

Bishop  Daniel  Alexander  Payne,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  was 
born  Feb.  24th,  1811,  at  Charleston,  South  Carolina.  Died 
Nov.  29th,  1893,  at  Wilberforce,  Ohio.  Aged  82  years,  9 
months  and  6  days.  Buried  Dec.  5th,  1893,  at  Baltimore, 
Md.  Licensed  to  preach  in  1837.  Served  56  years.  Bishop 
41  years,  6  months  and  16  days. 

Bishop  Thomas  M.  D.  Ward,  D.  D.,  was  born  Sept.  28th, 
1823,  at  Hanover,  Pa.  Died  June  10th,  1894,  at  Jackson- 
ville, Florida.  Aged  70  years,  8  months  and  12  days.  Buried 
in  Washington,  D.  C,  June  14th,  1894.  Entered  the  ministry 
Aug.  1843.  Served  50  years,  10  months  and  10  days.  Bishop 
26  years  and  12  days. 

Bishop  Alexander  Washington  Wayman,  D.  D.,  was 
born  Sept.  21st,  1821,  at  Tuckaho,  Md.  Died  Nov.  30th,  1895, 
at  Baltimore,  Md.  Aged  74  years,  2  months  and  8  days. 
Buried  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  Dec.  4th,  1895.  Served  in  the 
ministry  56  years.     Bishop  31  years,  6  months  and  7  days. 

B 

Total  ages  of  the  four  deceased  Bishops, 

303  years,  2  months. and  4  days. 

Average  : — 75  years,  6  months  and  16  days. 

C 

YRS. 

Total  Ministerial  Service,  -           221 

Average  Ministerial  life,  55 

Total  Episcopal  life,       -  123 

Average  Episcopal  life,     -  -           30 


MOS. 

DAS. 

1 

26 

3 

14 

10 

23 

11 

20 

BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.   CHURCH.  15 

Thus,  these  Fathers  of  the  Church,  were  abundant  in 
labors  and  full  of  years.  I  know  of  no  paralled  in  the  modern 
church.  They  were  pioneers  in  the  work  of  race  elevation 
and  of  race  redemption.  They  honored  Religion  by  their 
blameless  lives  and  strengthened  the  church  of  their  choice 
by  their  earnest,  zealous  and  consecrated  work.  The  eleva- 
ting influences  of  their  lives,  has  for  the  third  of  a  century 
been  the  one  potential  factor  in  shaping  the  destiny  of  half  a 
million  people,  and  their  names,  fame  and  worth  are  the  com- 
mon heritage  of  Methodism  and  Christianity  and  will  be 
guarded  and  kept  by  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
as  a  sacred  heirloom  for  a  hundred  generations. 

Respect  for  the  Dead  is  a  pervading  instinct  of  our  com- 
mon humanity :  it  has  been  cultivated  by  all  the  races  and 
nations  in  ancient  and  modern  times,  in  some  form  or  other. 
Consequently  where  we  find  a  hamlet  of  living  men,  we  will 
find  a  hamlet  of  dead  men ;  a  village  of  living  men,  a  village 
of  dead  men;  a  town  of  living  men,  a  town  of  dead  men  ;  a 
city  of  living  men,  a  city  of  dead  men  ;  between  the  two  there 
is  a  constant  communication ;  the  living  of  to-day  bury  their 
dead,  return  to  their  home  to  be  borne  the  next  day  by  loving 
hands  to  the  "  City  of  the  dead."  Each  generation  buries  its 
predecessor  ;  and  they  in  turn  are  buried  by  their  successors. 
So  in  families,  in  State  and  in  church,  the  change  goes  on 
and  on  until  the  living  become  the  dead.  The  minister 
(Pastor)  buries  his  members,  the  Presiding  Elder  in  turn 
buries  the  Pastor;  the  Bishop  buries  the  Presiding  Elder; 
and  finally  all  survivors  of  the  flock  are  called  upon  to  honor 
the  memory  of  their  Chief  Pastor.  The  sacred  trust  is  left  to 
the  faithful  discharge  of  affection  and  friendship.  We  are 
glad  that  a  good  man's  fame  and  memory  are  not  left  to  the 
sole  guardianship  of  those  who  knew  and  loved  him  in  life ; 
there  is  something  in  the  helplessness  of  the  coffin  and  the 
sepulchre  that  appeals  to  the  better  nature  of  man  ;  so  that 
discord   and   passion   and   the  conflict  of  individual  interest 


16  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

retire  in  silence  from  the  presence  of  the  Master  of  unnum- 
bered generations. 

By  the  death  of  four  of  our  Chief  Pastors  and  General 
Superintendent's  of  the  work  of  God  during  the  past  Quadren- 
nium ;  we  are  brought  face  to  face  with  a  duty  and  rensposibil- 
ity  that  will  require  calm  deliberation,  mature  thought  and 
an  implicit  reliance  on  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  that 
the  result  of  our  deliberations  may  guide  us  to  loftier  heights 
of  purpose  and  effort,  and  inspire  us  with  a  fresh  zeal  and 
devotion  for  the  cause  for  which  our  honored  dead  worked  so 
nobly,  and  for  which  Jesus  died. 

.Measuring  time  by  years,  these  men  lived  an  average  of 
seventy-five  years,  more  than  the  average  allotted  to  the  gen- 
erations by  our  beneficent  Creator  and  Father ;  but  the  true 
length  of  life  is  best  measured  by  its  usefulness,  goodness  and 
intelligence,  for  he  lives  most  who  thinks  most,  feels  the  nob- 
lest and  acts  the  best.  Applying  this  standard  to  our  illus- 
trious and  honored  Fathers  ;  who  can  measure  or  will  attempt 
to  measure  or  estimate  the  length  of  their  years  or  the  end  of 
their  days  ?  They  have  won  a  place  on  the  roll  of  human 
immortality ;  all  coming  ages  are  theirs  ;  time  their  spacious 
vestibule,  and  Eternity  their  temple  of  Praise  and  Honor. 

THE  PUBLICATION  DEPARTMENT. 

The  Publication  Department  is  the  oldest  in  the  church. 
Bishop  Allen  and  J.  Tapseco  printed  our  first  Discipline  in 
1817,  a  16mo  of  192  pages. 

In  1818,  Bishop  Allen,  Daniel  Coker,  Jas.  Champion, 
compiled  and  printed  a  Hymn  book  containing  314  hymns  of 
280  pages,  16  mo. 

In  1822  the  first  General  Minute  was  printed  containing 
the  proceedings  of  the  Baltimore,  Philadelphia  and  New 
York  Annual  Conferences. 

In  1832  Rev.  J.  M.  Corr  was  elected  General  Book  Stew- 
ard.    Published  an  edition  of  the  Discipline. 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.  CHURCH.  17 

In  1833  a  General  Minute  was  published  by  the  Book 
Steward  of  the  Philadelphia  Annual  Conference. 

In  1840,  George  Hogarth,  General  Book  Steward,  pub- 
lished the  Minutes  of  the  General  Conference  and  the  Annual 
Conference  from  1836-1839  in  one  volume. 

In  April  1841  the  first  number  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Magazine 
was  published. 

In  1848,  the  General  Conference  elected  Rev.  A.  R, 
Green,  General  Book  Steward,  and  authorized  him  to  pur- 
chase a  newspaper  called  the  "  Mystery,"  edited  by  Martin 
R.  Delany,  and  to  change  its  name  to  "  The  Christian  Her- 
ald," also  to  move  the  Book  Concern  from  Philadelphia  to 
Pittsburgh  ;  which  he  did  and  continued  the  publication  of 
the  paper  until  General  Conference  of  1852.  The  name  of 
the  paper  was  then  changed  to  the  "  Christian  Recorder," 
and  from  1852  it  has  continued  to  visit  the  homes  of  the 
members  of  our  church  bearing  the  tidings  of  peace  and  war, 
the  sorrows  of  slavery  and  the  joys  ot  freedom.  It  is  the 
only  paper  belonging  to  the  race  that  has  survived  the  storms 
of  forty-five  winters.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  have  the  privilege 
to  review  the  Financial  Statements  of  the  Publication  Depart- 
ment from  1836-1895.     The  figures  speak  for  themselves. 

George  Hogarth,  General  Book  Steward,  reports  his 
business  from  May  1, 1836  to  May  1, 1840,  $1954  11 


May  1,  1840  to  1844, 

Total, 
1845,  Business, 

2168  00 

$1550  28 

$4122  11 

Two  cent  money, 
1846,  Business, 

870  46 
1223  30 

Two  cent  money, 

347  58 

1847,  Business, 

1993  43 

Two  cent  money, 
1848,   Business, 

424  91 
1522  62 

Two  cent  money, 

Total 

475  00 

$8407  58 

A  KJ  lidil  • 

.  total, 

Grand 

$12529  69 

18 


THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 


THE    CHRISTIAN    HERALD. 


Rev.  A.  R.  Green,  General  Book  Steward,  1848  to  1852 

reported  as  follows  : 

September  1849,  Business, 

$2405  19 

Two  cent  money, 

722  52 

1850,  Business, 

1171  76 

Two  cent  money, 

123  23 

1851,  Business, 

2650  27 

Two  cent  money, 

825  62 

1852,  Business, 

2752  56 

Two  cent  money, 

925  32 

• 

$11585  47 

Recapitulation  of  the  business  of  the  Book  Concern  from 

1836  to  1895. 


Geo.  Hogarth,  twelve  years  busi 
A.  R.  Green,  two  years 
A.  R.  Green,  two  years 
W.  T.  Cato,  M.  M.  Clark  1 
J.  P.  Campbell,  two  yrs.    j 
J.  P.  Campbell,  four  years 
Elisha  Weaver,  four  years 
E.  Weaver,  four  years, 
J.  Woodlin,        | 

A.  L.  Stanford,  I  four  years 

B.  T.  Tanner,    J 
W.  H.  Hunter,  four  years 
H.  M.  Turner,  four  years 
T.  Gould,  four  years 
J.  C.  Embry,  four  years 
J.  C.  Embry,  four  years 
J.  C.  Embry,  four  years 
J.  C.  Embry,  one  year 
J.  C.  Embry,  Dec.  31,  1895, 

Grand  total, 


ess,  1836  to  1848,  $  12530  69 
1848  to  1850,  4421,70 
1850  to  1852, 
1852  to  1854, 
1854  to  1856, 
1856  to  1860,  6449  57 
1860  to  1864,  7410  26 
1864  to  1868,   29149  86 


7163  77 
3995  80 


1868  to  1872, 

1872  to  1876, 
1876  to  1880, 
1880  to  1884, 
1884  to  1888, 
1888  to  1892, 
1892  to  1894, 
1894  to  1895, 


41368  69 
50142  27 
63139  65 
49123  49 
55597  86 
34350  91 
13076  53 
10576  87 

$413773  39 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.   CHURCH.  19 

Having  thus  reviewed  the  work  in  the  several  depart- 
ments, we  would  now  call  your  special  attention  to  the  Report 
of  Dr.  J.  C.  Embry: 

THE  BOOK  CONCERN. 

The  Building.  The  new  building  was  commenced  in 
September,  1892,  and  completed  in  June,  1893,  and  was  dedi- 
cated in  that  month.  Its  cost  was  a  little  more  than  $11,000. 
Its  machinery  and  furnishing  cost  approximately  $5,000. 
The  old  indebtedness  was  $4,273.44.  The  total  indebtedness 
was  $15,245.40.  The  present  debts  are  $16,800.  Our  prop- 
erty is  worth  to-day,  $30,000. 

Literature.  During  the  term  we  have  enlarged  The 
Christian  Recorder  and  are  publishing  it  at  the  old  price. 

We  have  revised  the  Hymn  Book,  paid  for  the  plates 
and  issued  and  sold  nearly  twenty-five  thousand  copies.  And 
but  for  the  very  hard  times  and  the  pressure  of  indebtedness, 
we  should  have  been  ready  to  present  a  music  edition  to  this 
counsel  of  the  Bishops.  The  work  now  being  done  by  the 
Concern  is  well  known  to  the  Bishops.  We  have  printed  a 
number  of  new  books  that  speak  for  themselves. 
Business  of  the  Concern. 

Our  first  annual  report  for  1892-93,  was  $18826  00 

Our  gross  receipts  for           1893-94,  was  15753  64 

For  last  year,                         1894-95,  was  13184  53 

To  December  31st,  this  year,  it  is  10576  87 


Total,  $58341  04 

This  against  $55071  86 

for  the  preceeding  four  years. 

Difference,  $3269  16 

So  we  shall  probably  be  more  than  $5,000  ahead  of  our 
last  report. 

Our  Needs.  The  chief  need  of  the  Book  Concern  is 
better  support.     It  can  never  be  prosperous  until  its  business 


20  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

is  raised  to  $30,000  or  more  per  year.  Rapid  progress  could 
be  made  toward  this  attainment  every  year  if  we  can  once 
secure  co-operation. 

Methods  of  Co-operation.  1st.  The  circulation  of  The 
Recorder  can  be  increased  to  ten  thousand  or  twelve  thou- 
sand copies  weekly,  by  making  it  obligatory  on  all  our  minis- 
try to  take  the  paper  and  pay  for  it. 

2d.  Oblige  our  entire  local  ministry  after  1896  to  take 
the  paper  as  a  condition  of  license. 

3d.  Oblige  all  church  officers,  leaders,  stewards,  trus- 
tees, superintendents,  to  purchase  and  study  the  Discipline. 

4th.  All  subscriptions  by  the  ministry  should  be  made 
a  part  of  the  Annual  Returns  the  same  as  Missionary  Money, 
or  Dollar  Money  and  go  into  the  hands  of  a  committee. 

Organization.  To  my  mind,  our  organization  is  the  best 
we  have  ever  had.  The  most  convenient,  the  most  efficient. 
It  is  quite  certain  that  a  Board  of  nine  men  will  be  more 
efficient  than  one  of  twenty-live. 

Our  Board,  since  reduced  to  nine  has  always  been  har- 
monious and  easily  called  together. 

HIGHER  LITERATURE. 

We  are  pleased  to  inform  the  Members  of  this  General 
Conference  that  our  Fathers  have  the  honorable  distinction 
of  being  the  first  ot  their  race  to  recognize  the  necessity  of 
having  a  magazine,  where  the  best  and  matured  thoughts  of 
the  race  could  find  a  door  of  entrance  into  the  Common- 
wealth of  Letters.  They  not  only  recognized  the  necessity, 
but  also  had  the  courage  and  intelligence  to  make  provision 
to  supply  the  same.  The  New  York  Annual  Conference 
recommended  and  the  General  Conference  adopted  the  recom- 
mendation to  establish  an  A.  M.  E.  "  Magazine,"  Rev.  Geo. 
Hogarth,  General  Book  Steward  as  Editor.  The  first  num- 
ber was  published  September,  1841  and  continued  until  1848. 
The  following  language  of  the  Editor  will  give  you  some  con- 
ception of  the  Fathers  idea  of  the  Mission  of  a  Magazine  : — 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.   M.   B.   CHURCH.  21 

"  Among  the  prominent  objects  of  our  enterprise  which 
call  for  immediate  and  particular  attention,  is  primitive  Chris- 
tianity as  was  understood  to  exist  in  the  Methodist  Church 
in  Mr.  Wesley's  day;  a  vindication  of  the  rights  and  priv- 
ileges of  our  Church  in  all  its  bearings  in  this  country  as 
African  Methodists,  its  episcopacy  and  doctrines,  holding  up 
to  the  observance  of  our  Christian  brethren,  regardless  of 
color,  the  importance  of  union  among  us,  not  only  as  Meth- 
odists, but  as  worshippers  before  the  same  Lamb  in  whose 
blood  we  are  washed;  the  extension  of  the  Redeemer's  king- 
dom among  our  brethren  of  color  in  this  country,  who  are 
still  perishing  for  the  want  of  an  opportunity  of  hearing  his 
sacred  word  to  their  advantage;  the  importance  of  turning 
the  attention  of  our  brethren  "to  the  land  of  our  fathers — the 
millions  of  souls  who  are  enshrouded  in  midnight  darkness 
under  heathenish  superstition  and  idolatry — that  the  prayers 
of  our  brethren  may  ascend  to  the  ear  of  the  Lord,  that  he 
may  in  mercy  raise  up  some  of  our  young  men  and  prepare 
them  to  carry  to  Africa's  shore  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation, 
that  the  sunbeams  ot  the  morning  may  burst  forth  with  its 
radiant  light  upon  these  benighted  regions  and  dispel  the 
shades  of  ignorance,  superstition,  idolatry  and  death  that  now 
lays  them  prostrate  in  the  dust;  the  necessity  of  contributing 
to  the  education  of  our  pious  young  men  who  may  be  called 
of  God  to  the  work  ot  the  ministry,  that  they  may  be  able  to 
study  unembarrassed  to  show  themselves  approved  of  God, 
workmen  that  need  not  be  ashamed,  rightly  divining  the 
word  of  truth." 

REPOSITORY. 

The  "  Repository  of  Religion  and  Literature  "  was  pub- 
lished in  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  the  first  number  is  dated  April, 
1858  and  continued  until  1864.  Rev.  Jno.  M.  Brown  was 
Editor  with  the  corresponding  Editors.  This  was  the  second 
effort  of  the  church  to  furnish  the  race  with  the  thoughts  of 
the  leading  men  and  women  of  the  race. 

The  GeneralConference  in  Baltimore  1884  made  provis- 
ion for  the  establishment  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Review  and  elected 
Rev.  B.  T.  Tanner,  Editor.  His  experience  as  Editor  of  the 
Christian    Recorder  gave   him   peculiar  fitness  for  his  new 


22  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

duties.  The  Review  took  its  place  with  the  other  Reviews  of 
the  world  and  has  held  its  own  as  an  exponent  of  the  thoughts, 
hopes  and  aspirations  of  the  Negro  on  five  continents.  In 
1888,  Rev.  L.  J.  Coppin  was  elected  by  General  Conference  to 
succeed  as  Editor.  He  has  kept  up  the  reputation  of  the  Re- 
view and  manifested  a  scholarship  and  business  capacity 
creditable  alike  to  his  church,  race  and  profession. 

The  following  is  a  Summary  of  his  Report  and  recom- 
mendation : — 

REVIEW. 

Baltimore,  Md.,  Jan.  15th,  1896. 

SECOND    QUADRENNIAL    STATEMENT    OF    THE   EDITOR   AND    MANAGER 
OF  THE  A.  M.  E.  CHURCH  REVIEW. 

To  the  Bench  of  Bishops  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church: 

Rev.  Fathers  in  God: — I  have  the  honor  to  present  to  you 
this  my  second  quadrennial  statement  as  Editor  and  Manager 
of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church  Review. 

The  object  of  this  publication  may  be  thus  briefly  stated. 
First.     To  give  recognition  and  opportunity  to  the  men 
and  women  of  our  race  variety  who  have  talent  as  writers. 

2nd.  To  place  in  the  hands  of  our  people  in  general  and 
our  ministers  in  particular,  a  higher  class  of  literature  than  is 
found  in  the  ordinary  newspaper. 

3rd.  To  give  to  the  world  our  best  literary  products  and 
thus  show  the  advancement  that  we  are  making  in  literary 
pursuits.  We  have  endeavored  to  avoid  sectarian  or  other 
discussions  that  would  have  been  offensive  to  a  part  of  our 
people ;  and  have  thus  striven  to  make  the  publication  a 
popular  family  journal.  At  the  same  time,  our  columns  have 
been  open  to  persons  of  every  religious  sect,  or  political  opinion. 

We  have  also  endeavored  to  strike  the  golden  mean  be- 
tween the   Secular  and  Religious.     The  following  list  is  a 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.   M.   E.   CHURCH.  23 

fair  sample  of  the  kind  of  subject  matter  that  we  have  pub- 
lished : 

1.  The  Elements  of  National  13.   Church  Architecture. 

Strength.  14.   Heredity  and  Character. 

2.  Happiness  from  Intellectual  15.   Fermented  Wine  on  the  Corn- 

Conditions,  munion  Table. 

3.  Christ  the  Vine  Stock.  16.  The  Hope  of  Africa. 

4.  The  new  Language  or  Yolopuk.       17.  Building  Associations. 

5.  Industrial  Education.  18.  Civil  Rights. 

6.  Tariff  Reform.  19.  The  Afro- American  Women. 

7.  Brazillian  Freedom.  20.  Liberia  and  her  Mission. 

8.  Ministerial  Influence.  21.  Our  Episcopacy. 

9.  African  Methodism.  22.  Mob  Violence. 

10.  Melchiezdek.  -      23.  Life  Culture. 

11.  Russia's  New  Literature..  24.   Sunday  School  Work. 

12.  Biblical  Research.  25.   The  Study  of  Universal  History. 

Beside  such  practical  subjects,  which  are  suited  to  the 
average  reader.  We  have  kept  always  a  sprinkling  of  class- 
ical topics,  discussions  on  higher  education,  poetry,  higher 
criticism,  biography  and  symposiums  on  various  subjects. 
Each  edition  contains  a  portrait  as  a  frontispiece  of  some 
prominent  man  or  woman  among  ns  and  occasionally  illus- 
trations occur  elsewhere  in  the  book. 

Our  exchange  list  consists  of  many  of  the  leading  literary 
and  religious  publications  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  people,  hence, 
our  mission  has  not  only  been  one  of  education  among  our- 
selves, but  one  of  information  to  those  who  without  this 
medium,  would  have  been  the  more  ignorant  of  our  social, 
religious,  and  literary  advancement. 

Besides  a  large  number  of  new  and  previously  unknown 
writers,  we  have  secured  from  time  to  time  contributions 
from  men  and  women  of  national  repute.  Among  whom 
may  be  mentioned  : — 

Dr.  Ed  Blyden,  the  late  Fred  Douglass,  Dr.  Alex  Crum- 
mell,  Prof.  W.  H.  Scarboro,  Hon.  D.  Augustus  Straker,  Mrs. 
Josephine  Turpin  Washington,  Mrs.  F.  E.  W.  Harper,  Mrs. 
Ida  B.  Wells  Barnett,  Mrs.  J.  Silome  Yates,  Con.  T.  McCant 
Stewart,  T.  Thomas  Fortune,   Hon.  John   S.   Durham,   Mr, 


24  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

Isaiah  C.  Wears,  Win.  Hannibal  Thomas,  Mr.  Archibald 
Johnson,  Prof.  Orishatukeh  Fadnmar  and  Trot'.  Booker  T. 
Washington,  nearly  all  of  our  Bishops  from  Bishop  Daniel 
A.  Payne  to  Bishop  Jas.  A.  Handy  and  including  them  both 
have  contributed  to  our  columns.  Bishop  Tanner,  the  first 
editor,  being  a  frequent  contributor.  These  with  a  host  of 
others  of  both  sexes  within  and  outside  of  our  church,  from 
Europe,  Asia,  Africa,  Bermuda,  Hayti,  the  West  Indies,  and 
almost  every  part  of  the  United  States,  make  up  our  list  of 
contributors. 

Our  subscription  list  varies.  The  largest  edition  was 
thirty-two  hundred,  and  the  smallest  two  thousand.  In  these 
oppressive  times,  when  the  majority  of  our  patrons  cannot 
secure  tho  necessities  of  life,  it  is  exceedingly  hard  to  keep 
our  department  in  anything  like  a  healthy  financial  condi- 
tion, and  keep  the  subscription  list  up ;  and  yet  our  last  edi- 
tion was  twenty-one  hundred,  and  present  indications  are 
we  shall  be  unable  to  fill  the  demands  made  upon  us  during 
this  quarter. 

During  the  twelve  years  of  the  existence  of  the  Review^ 
the  department  has  not  received  any  financial  aid,  and  has 
not  brought  one  penny  of  indebtedness  upon  the  church,  but 
has  been  absolutely  self  supporting.  If  it  is  said  that  the 
editor  of  the  Review  receives  a  salary  from  the  church,  the 
same  must  be  said  of  every  minister  who  is  employed  by  the 
church. 

Our  editor  has  to  solicit  and  examine  all  contributions; 
attend  to  all  the  correspondence  of  the  office ;  do  the  most  of 
the  clerical  work  of  the  office,  including  the  booking;  read 
proof,  collect  all  the  money  for  running  the  department,  and 
travel  about  eight  months  in  the  year  to  solicit  subscribers. 
If  this  amount  of  work  were  not  done  by  the  editor  the  pub- 
lication would  either  have  to  be  suspended  or  else,  like  every 
department  of  the  church  not  subsidized,  ours  would  be 
involved  in  debt. 


BISHOP  WESLEY  JOHN  GAINES,  D.   D. 

Born  in  Wilkes  County,  Ga.,  October  14th,  1840. 
Ordained  Bishop,  May  24th,  1888. 


BISHOPS  OP  THE  A.   M.   E.   CIWKC!,.  25 

WHAT  OTHERS  THINK. 

Since  we  began  publishing  the  Review  in  1884,  a  number 
of  literary  publications  varying  in  size  and  merit  have  come 
into  existence  and  passed  away.  But  we  stand  'till  to-day, 
and  are  acknowledged  by  all,  to  be  the  leading  literary 
publication  by  our  people  in  the  United. States,  and  so  far  as 
wTe  know,  in  the  world.  That  this  claim  may  not  seem  an 
ideal  boast,  we  quote  a  few  out  of  many  clippings  in  our 
possession. 

"  The  Contents  of  the  January  Number  1895,  of  the  A. 
M.  E.  Church  Review,  show  the  high  charactertof  this  paper, 
especially  the  articles  on  Higher  Criticism;  the  Roman 
Coena ;  the  Shakesperian  School  of  Ethics ;  Alexander 
Pope  and  Heredity.  The  time  is  past  for  the  literary  and 
educational  work  of  our  colored  brethern  to  be  patronized 
with  an  encouraging  smile.  It  commands  admiration  by  its 
own  merit." — Canadian  Review. 

Referring  to  a  recent  number,  The  Bi-monthly  uf  the  M. 
E.  Church  South : — after  citing  every  article,  closes  up  by 
saying, — "  This  is  by  far  the  ablest  number  of  the  very  cred- 
itable quarterly  of  our  African  brethern  that  has  fallen  under 
our  notice." 

Colored  American,  Washington,  D.  C. : — The  Review  is 
the  very  best  literary  effort  published  by  negroes  any  where 
in  this  country,  and  its  corps  of  correspondents  are  among 
the  brightest  intellects  of  the  Negro  race." 

The  good  accomplished  by  the  A.  M.  E.  Church  during 
the  last  twelve  years  of  the  publication  of  this  journal,  is 
simply  inestimable.  It  is  more  than  the  most  sanguine 
amoug  us  could  have  even  hoped  for,  and  has  been  a  genuine 
surprise  to  the  outside  world.  The  Hon.  Fred.  Douglass,  in 
an  autograph  letter  just  before  his  death  writes  as  follows: 

"  I  fully  recognize  the  greatwork  you  are  doing  with  the 
Review,  and  am  surprised  by  the  literary  ability  you  are 
bringing  to  light.  I  hardly  seem  to  be  living  in  the  age  so 
near  my  slave  life  for  that  was  dark  indeed." 

This  letter  came  unsolicited  and  unexpectedly,  and  is  the 


26  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

endorsement  of  one  whose  opinion  upon  public  questions  was 
then  being  sought  by  the  people  of  two  continents.  Having 
achieved  such  splendid  victory  and  having  been  so  helpful  to  the 
race  and  to  mankind,  any  change  of  operation,  that  would  hinder 
the  good  work  would  be  a  serious  blunder  quite  unworthy  the 
Church  that  projected  the  plan.  Our  best  work  has  not  been 
done;  we  have  but  gone  far  enough  to  discover  what  is  pos- 
sible. The  scores  of  books  and  magazines  which  come  to  our 
tables  for  review  cannot  receive  proper  attention  with  the 
editor  absent  from  the  office  so  frequently  and  at  such  long 
periods  and  yet  without  this  absence  from  the  office  the  Re- 
view would  have  long  ago  suspended  for  the  want  of  means. 

The  talk  frequently  indulged  in  about  merging  the  Review 
into  some  other  department,  is  suicidal.  The  result  would  be 
deterioration,  loss  of  caste  and  final  death.  To  use  the 
vigorous  language  of  St.  Paul,  it  would  be  beginning  in  the 
spirit  and  ending  in  the  flesh  ;  a  backward  step,  which  in  the 
present  state  of  our  development,  would  do  us  untold  harm. 
The  great  religious  denominations  about  us  find  it  necessary 
to  select  their  very  best  man  for  this  important  post,  and  sur- 
round him  with  the  very  best  facilities  for  carrying  on  the 
work.  If  the  A.  M.  E.  Church,  after  twelve  years  of  success- 
ful effort  against  great  odds,  finds  that  it  is  not  equal  to  con- 
tinuing the  work,  it  will  be  far  more  honorable  to  retire  from 
the  field  and  give  the  work  over  to  other  hands,  then  it  will 
be  to  cripple  the  efibrt  and  cause  it  to  die  by  degrees. 

Personally  we  had  great  pleasure  in  doing  the  work, 
Though  hard  and  exacting,  it  has  been  to  us  a  school  of 
experience.  We  feel  to  be  placed  under  lasting  gratitude  to 
the  church  for  trusting  us  with  a  post  so  responsible,  and  for 
kindly  help  and  co-operation  during  two  consecutive  terms  of 
office.  We  have  done  the  best  we  could  with  limited  oppor- 
tunities; we  have  rendered  faithful,  if  not  efficient  service; 
the  result  of  our  work  is  before  you  for  your  inspection.  If 
in  making  up  your  address  to  the  general  church  you  find  it 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.  CHURCH.  27 

worthy  of*  your  approval,  we  feel  that  we  have  not  labored 
in  vain. 

Having  heard  the  statement  of  the  Editor  and  Manager 
of  the  A.  M.  E.  Review,  we  are  pleased  to  eongratulate  the 
Church  on  the  work  accomplished  during  the  present  quad- 
rennium.  He  has  done  well  and  Reserves  of  the  Church  its 
thanks.  After  having  carefully  and  prayerfully  considered 
the  subject,  we  recommend  that  the  editorship  of  the  A.  M. 
E.  Review  continue  separate  from  that  of  the  Christian 
Recorder,  but  that  he  be  the  Book  Editor  of  the  A.  M.  E. 
Church,  we  further  recommend  that  the  General  Business 
Manager  publish  the  A.  M.  E.  Review  in  common  with  the 
Christian  Recorder  and  other  Church  publications. 

It  is  highly  gratifying  to  learn  of  the  very  high  stand 
the  Review  has  taken  on  the  great  questions  of  the  day.  It  is  a 
beacon  light  for  the  race,  and  well  deserves  the  support  of  the 
General  Conference.  We  cannot  afford  to  lower  our  colors 
in  the  pursuit  of  the  duties  of  the  hour. 

The  Rev.  H.  T.  Johnson,  D.  D.,  Ph.  D.,  was  elected 
editor  of  the  Christian  Recorder  in  1892.  He  reports  his 
work  as  having  been  satisfactory.  He  has  exercised  his  tal- 
ents in  giving  the  church  what  the  age  demands,  a  newspaper 
to  speak  for  the  whole  people  before  the  bar  of  public  opinion, 
demand  the  rights  and  defend  the  doctrines  of  the  church,  the 
liberties  of  the  people  and  the  honor  of  the  nation. 

We  call  your  attention  to  the  editor's  recommendations 
and  trust  that  the  duties  of  the  editor  and  the  manager  will 
be  so  clearly  defined,  that  there  can  be  no  mistake  as  to  the 
authority  of  the  one  or  the  duty  of  the  other. 

THE  SOUTHERN  CHRISTIAN  RECORDER. 

Rev.  A.  M.  Green,  D.  D.,  editor  and  manager  of  the 
Southern  Christian  Recorder  will  give  you  his  report,  which 
we  hope  you  will  consider  and  take  such  action  as  will  make 
this  paper  what  was  intended  when  it  was  purchased.     ft 


28  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

was  hoped  that  it  would  be  a  mouthpiece  for  the  ministry,  a 
sentinel  on  the  southern  wall  of  our  beloved  Zion,  a  watch- 
man in  our  doctrinal  towers,  the  trumpeter  to  warn  the  peo- 
ple of  danger,  and  the  herald  of  peace  and  goodwill  between 
man  and  man,  race  and  race,  and  church  and  church. 

There  is  a  wide  field  for  this  messenger  of  the  Gospel  of 
the  Son  of  God,  and  we  trust  that  you  may  be  wise  in  your 
legislation  in  relation  to  this  important  interest. 

MISSIONARY  DEPARTMENT. 

The  Missionary  Work  of  our  church  may  be  considered 
under  two  divisions;  the  unorganized  and  the  organized. 

The  unorganized  may  be  dated  from  1784-5.  When  Rich- 
ard Allen  returned  from  the  Christmas  Conference  at  Balti- 
more, December  25th.,  presided  over  by  Rev.  Dr.  T.  Coke  and 
began  his  evangelistic  work  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  which  work 
caused  the  first  trouble  with  the  colored  members  and 
finally  culminated  in  the  orgnization  of  an  independent  class, 
November,  1787,  which  became  the  "  mother  of  the  a.  m.  e. 
church"  and  all  other  independent  and  inter-dependent 
Negro  churches. 

Daniel  Coker  was  the  first  Missionary  Preacher  in  Balti- 
more; Father  Spencer,  Wilmington,  Delaware.  The  final 
results  of  these  pioneer  missionaries  was  the  organization  of 
the  A.  M.  E.  Church,  April  9th,  1816.  Then  we  had  for  a 
number  of  years  Conference  Missionaries. 

In  1840,  the  General  Conference  commissioned  its  first 
General  Missionary,  William  Paul  Quinn,  who  was  sent  out 
to  organize  churches,  open  temperance  socities  and  to  estab- 
lish schools  for  the  children.  The  result  of  his  work  produced 
a  new  era,  so  that  when  he  reported  at  the  General  Conference, 
1844,  at  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  a  new  spirit  Came  over  the  confer- 
ence, and  they  made  provision  for  organizing  missionary 
socities  in  every  church  and  in  every  conference. 

The  Parent  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  was 
then  organized  and  has  continued  until  this  day. 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.   B.   CHURCH.  29 

From  1844-1864  the  Parent  Society  was  under  the  control 
of  the  Baltimore  Annual  Conference;  but  in  1864  the  Board 
of  Managers  was  enlarged  and  the  Corresponding  Secretary 
elected  in  the  person  of  John  M.  Brown. 

The  southern  field  was  opened,  1863,  and  missionaries  were 
sent  to  organize  churches.  Rev.  J.  1).  S.  Hall  and  Jas. 
Lynch  were  the  pioneer  missionaries  to  the  South  land ;  they 
were  soon  followed  by  Revs.  Jas.  A.  Handy,  Jas.  H.  A.  John- 
son and  T.  G.  Steward.  As  the  work  proceeded  Rev.  II.  jVL 
Turner  took  charge  of  the  forces  in  Georgia;  Rev.  R.  II.  Cain 
in  South  Carolina;  Rev.  G.  W.  Brodie  in  North  Carolina ; 
Rev.  Chas.  H.  Pearce  in  Florida  and  under  the  leadership  of 
Bishop  J.  A.  Shorter  the  work  spread  into  the  Mississippi  Val- 
ley, and  Bishop  J.  P.  Campbell  carried  the  Episcopal  banner  of 
African  Methodism  and  planted  it  at  the  Golden  Gate  on  the 
shores  of  the  Pacific. 

The  following  summary  will  give  some  idea  of  the  finan- 
cial progress  of  the  missionary  Department: 

J.M.Brown,  -  1864—1868,  -  -  $  5425  65 
J.  A.  Handy,  -  1868—1872,  -  -  9317  32 
G.  W.  Brodie,     -      1872—1876,     -  6.356  42 

R.  H.  Caine,  -  -  1876—1880,  -  "  -  5947  80 
J.  M.  Townsend,  -  1880—1884,  -  -  34811  83 
J.  M.  Townsend,  1884—1888,  -  -  19001  09 
W.  B.  Derrick,  -  1888—1892,  -  -  25675  47 
W.  B.  Derrick,    -     1892—1895,     -         -       30250  00 


Total  $136,985  58 

The  above  figures  represent  the  amount  paid  into  the 
general  treasury  of  the  Missionary  Society  and  is  about  forty 
per  cont.  of  the  missionary  collection.  The  sixty  percent,  or 
^202,463, 37  was  retained  by  the  annual  conferences  to  assist 
in  the  home  missionary  work  which  gives  us  a  grand  total  of 
£337,438.90. 

This  amount  has  been  laid  on  the  altar  of  missions  during 
thirty    years.     The    annual    conferences    have    had    another 


30  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

source  from  which  they  receive  money  to  assist  in  carrying 
on  the  home  work,  viz  :  The  twenty,  (20)  thirty,  (30)  and 
forty,  (40)  per  cent,  of  the  Dollar  Money.  The  following  are 
the  figures : — 

Burly  and  Emory,  1872—1880,  -  -  $  27,913  56 
B.  W.  Arnett,  -  1880—1884,  -  -  54,510  51  ' 
B.  W.  Arnett,  -  1884—1888,  -  -  73,227  18 
J.  A.  Handy,  -  1888—1892,  -  -  187,772  45 
J.  H.  Armstrong,  1892—1893,  -  -  36,211  91 
J.  H.  Armstrong,  1893—1894,  -  -  39,438  33 
J.  H.  Armstrong,  1894—1895,  -  -  34,400  00 
J.  H.  Armstrong,      1895—1896,     -         -     36,000  00 


Total,  Per  cent,  -        489,473  94 

Total,  Missionary  -         -  337,438  98 


Grand  Total,     -  -     $826,912  89 

This  gives  the  amount  expended  directly  and  indirectly 
in  the  mission  work  since  1864. 

The  report  for  the  missionary  department  from  1892-1896 
will  he  seen  in  the  figures  and  facts  given  in  the  report  of 
Secretary  W.  B.  Derrick,  D.  D.,  who  has  done  a  good  work 
in  arousing  the  people  to  a  sense  of  their  duty  to  the  sacred 
cause  of  missions.  He  has  sent  money  to  the  African 
work  and  assisted  the  Presiding  Bishop  in  his  marvelous  work 
on  the  coast. 

THE  MITE  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 

In  1874,  the  Woman's  Mite  Missionary  Society  was  or- 
ganized for  the  purpose  of  assisting  in  the  missionary  work. 
They  have  been  very  successful,  and  are  still  doing  good  ser- 
vice. It  was  through  their  efforts  that  Bishop  Shorter  was 
enabled  to  carry  on  the  work  in  Hayti  and  Santo  Domingo. 
By  their  efforts  the  work  in  Sierra  Leone,  Africa,  was  res- 
cued from  an  untimely  death ;  and  with  their  co-operation, 
we  will   assist  in  the  redemption  of  Africa.     Without  them 


BISHOPS  OP  THE  A.  M.  E.  CHURCH.  31 

we  cannot  do  much,  but  with  them  and  God  we  can  do  all 
things. 

The  Society  will  present  to  the  General  Conference  an 
enlarged  plan  of  operation — one  looking  to  an  Annual  Confer- 
ence Mite  Missionary  Society,  composed  of  representatives  from 
the  local  societies,  and  the  presidents  of  the  Conference  Mis- 
sionary Society  become  representatives  in  the  parent  (H.  and  F. 
Missionary)  Society,  thus  making  a  complete  chain,  each  link 
depending  upon  the  other. 

The  following  will  show  the  amounts  collected  by  this 
organization  since  1874. 


1874  to  1876,              $  627  29 

•  1884  to  1888, 

1963  27 

1876  to  1880,                1705  75 

1888  to  1892, 

2565  95 

1880  to  1884                   1869   93 

-LuUu     \j\J     lOOlj                                       X<J\J<J      <JtJ 

Grand  total, 

$8732  64 

In  1892,  the  Ohio  Conference  met  at  Lancaster,  Ohio, 
Bishop  D.  A.  Payne,  presiding.  Rev.  John  Coleman  offered 
the  following  resolution : 

"  Whereas,  The  General  Conference  has  ordered  the  estab- 
lishing of  Auxiliary  Societies  to  the  Women's  Mite  Mission- 
ary Society  in  all  our  churches ; 

Therefore,  Be  it  resolved,  that  each  pastor  be  required  to 
proceed  immediately  after  entering  upon  his  work  to  organize 
a  Mite  Missionary  Society  in  all  the  churches  under  his 
charge,  where  there  exists  no  society. 

Resolved  ( 2d.)  That  a  convention  of  said  societies  be 
called  to  meet  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  July  3d,  1893,  and  that 
each  society  send  one  delegate  with  report  ot  all  the  doings 
of  said  society.  Signed, 

John  Coleman, 
Jno.  W.  Gazaway, 
Chas.  Bundy. 

After  sdhie  discussion  the  resolution  was  adopted  with 
the  hearty  approval  of  Bishop  Payne. 

The  convention  met  at  St.  Pauls',  Columbus,  Ohio,  July 


32  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

3d,  1893,  2:30  p.  m.,  Bishop  Payne  conducting  the  religious 
exercises. 

Mrs.  Emma  Ransom  was  elected  president  of  the  first 
session,  and  a  president  was  elected  for  each  session  of  the 
convention. 

Mrs.  W.  T.  Anderson  was  elected  secretary.  Thirty- 
two  societies  answered  the  roll  call.     $81.66  was  collected. 

Mrs.  Lucy  A.  Collins  was  elected  permanent  president, 
and  a  full  corps  of  officers. 

Revs.  J.  II.  Jones,  W.  J.  Johnson,  J.  M.  Gilmere,  W. 
H.  Coleman,  C.  W.  Dorsey  and  others  were  present,  and 
assisted  in  the  organization. 

Mrs.  Fannie  J.  Coppin  and  Mrs.  Amanda  Smith  were 
among  the  visitors  and  did  much  good  by  their  presence. 

The  first  annual  meeting  convened  at  St.  John's  A.  M. 
E.  Church,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  July  5th,  and  continued  until 
the  8th,  1894. 

The  session  of  the  convention  was  pleasant.  Mrs. 
Bishop  Tanner  came  as  a  fraternal  delegate  from  the  parent 
society.  The  following  distinguished  personages  were  present: 
Bishops  II.  M.  Turner,  W.  T.  Tanner,  and  Drs.  W.  B.  Der- 
rick, W.  D.  Johnsoh,  C.  S.  Smith,  W.  II.  Brown,  C.  Asbury, 
and  others.     Bishop  Arnett  was  absent  by  reason  of  sickness. 

^Forty-two  societies  reported  total  money  collected  dur- 
the  year  from  all  sources,  $517.67. 

The  convention  held  memorial  services  in  honor  of  their 
founder  —  Bishop  I).  A.  Payne;  and  adjourned  after  having 
accomplished  much  good. 

The  second  annual  meeting  convened  at  Wylie  A.  M.  E. 
Church,  July  4th  and  continued  in  session  during  the  5th, 
6th,  and  7th. 

Mrs.  L.  A.  Collins  was  absent  on  occount  of  sickness,  and 
Mrs  Grace  P.  Oiler  was  elected  president.  • 

Fifty-two  societies  reported  at  roll  call,  and  ninety-one 
(9.1)  members  answered  to  their  names. 


BISHOPS   OF   THE  A.   M.   E.   CHURCH.  S3 

The  sessions  were  profitable  and  the  papers  and  address- 
es excellent. 

Total  money  paid  into  the  treasury  $652.22. 

Raised  for  contingent  expenses,  $113.23. 

Making  a  total  of  $765.49. 

Dr.  Derrick  was  present,  also  Presiding  Elders,  Brown, 
Asbury  and  Drs.  Ransom,  Bently,  Ross,  Lowery,  Morris,  C. 
II.  Brown,  D.  F.  Caliman. 

The  convention  closed  and  everybody  w<mt  away  having 
a  deeper  interest  in  the  cause  of  Christian  Missions. 

Since  the  close  of  the  -  convention,  the  treasurer  has 
reserved  $200.  This  makes  the  total  of  $1,482.16.  This 
shows  that  if  the  church  was  properly  organized,  we 
would  have,  at  least,  eleven  times  the  amount  raised  in  the 
Third  District,  for  eleven  of  the  twelve  districts  could  raise 
that  amount  or  more.  If  they  only  raised  as  much  as  the 
Third  District  in  two  years  it  would  be  $16,303.76,  and  the 
quadrennium  would  be  $32,607.52.  It  is  our  opinion  that  if 
the  women  were  properly  organized,  we  would  raise  $50,000 
in  the  next  quadrennium. 

We  trust  that  the  women  will  be  encouraged  in  their 
work  by  this  General  Conference  and  the  church  in  general. 

FINANCIAL  LAWS. 

1817.  The  Discipline  of  1817,  page  188,  on  raising  a 
General  Fund  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  is  as  follows : 

"  Every  preacher  who  has  the  charge  of  a  circuit,  shall 
make  a  yearly  collection,  and,  if  expedient,  a  quarterly  one, 
on  every  congregation  where  there  is  a  probability  that  the 
people  will  be  willing  to  contribute,  and  the  money  so  col- 
lected shall  be  lodged  in  the  hand  of  the  steward  or  stewards 
and  brought  or  sent  to  the  ensuing  Annual  Conference. 

Second,  .That  an  annual  collection  shall  be  made  at  every 
Annual  or  General  Conference  for  the  above  purpose." 


34  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  Ob   THE 

Section  IV  makes  provision  that  the  profits  on  all  books 
published  shall  go  to  the  support  of  the  traveling  ministers. 
Two  book  stewards  were  provided  for,  all  to  be  paid  out  of 
this  General  Fund. 

1832.  The  General  Conference  of  1832  continued  the 
old  law  and  made  provision  that  the  General  Superintendent 
should  receive  $25.00  at  each  Annual  Conference  that  he 
attends,  and  his  traveling  expenses,  and  that  this  expense 
should  be  made  up  on  the  circuits  and  stations  by  the 
preacher.  It  was  further  provided  that  the  Assistant  General 
Superintendent  should  have  his  traveling  expenses  paid  on 
attending  at  any  Annual  Conference. 

The  Philadelphia  Conference  was  given  charge  of  the 
Book  Concern  at  this  meeting. 

1840.  The  General  Conference  of  1840,  adopted  the 
General  Financial  Plan,  and  made  provisions  for  a  general 
collection  for  the  purpose  of  raising  an  outfit  for  the  Bishop's 
immediate  supply,  to  enable  him  to  employ  all  his  time  in 
traveling  throughout  the  connections  unencumbered.  The 
preachers  were  recommended  to  take  monthly  collections 
or  voluntary  contributions  for  the  General  Book  Steward. 

1844.  The  General  Conference  in  1844  provided  that  "  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  every  preacher  having  a  charge  to  do 
all  in  his  power  to  make  a  collection  of  Two  ( 2  )  Cents  per 
month  from  each  member  at  the  end  of  each  month  or  quar- 
ter for  the  purpose  of  raising  a  fund;  half  of  which  is  to  be 
applied  to  the  relief  of  the  distressed  itinerant  superannuated 
and  supernumerary  preachers'  and  bishops'  salaries;  and  the 
other  half  to  create  a  fund  or  capital  for  carrying  on  the 
measures  of  the  Book  Concern.  Such  collections  to  be  for- 
warded, at  least,  quarterly  to  the  General  Book  Steward." 

The  General  Book  Steward  was  authorized  to  publish  a 
magazine,  monthly. 

This  General  Conference  provided  for  the   organization 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.   M.  E.   CHY7RBH  35 

of  an  Annual  Conference  Missionary  Society.  The  head- 
quarters of  the  parent  society  was  to  be  in  Philadelphia. 
Auxiliary  Societies  were  to  be  formed. among  the  laymen  for 
the  purpose  of  assisting  the  parent  society.  A  public  collec- 
tion was  to  be  taken  up  at  every  Annual  Conference  for  the 
purpose  of  missions. 

1848.  The  General  Conference  of  1848  adopted  the  Gen- 
eral Financial  "  Two  Cent  Money,"  one  half  to  go  to  the 
Annual  Conference  and  the  other  half  to  the  Book  Concern. 

The  District  Book  Steward  was  to  receive  six  per  cent, 
of  all  cash  received  in  order  to  encourage  him  to  work.  A 
provision  was  adopted  to  take  up  a  general  collection  through- 
out the  church. 

The  Missionary  Section  was  re-adopted. 

1852.  The  General  Conference  of  1852  re-adopted  the 
"Two  Cent"  Money  Financial  Plan;  provided  that  the 
Bishop  should  have  $200  per  year,  traveling  expenses,  board, 
fuel  and  house  rent ;  it  also  made  the  same  provisions  for 
married  preachers.  It  made  provisions  for  a  General  Book 
Steward,  Editor,  Committee,  Treasurer,  Secretary  and  Gen- 
eral Book  Agent.  All  were  to  receive  their  pay  from  the 
proceeds  or  sale  of  the  book. 

1856.  The  General  Conference  of  1856  adopted  the 
General  Two  Cent  Law ;  provided  for  the  expenses  of  the 
wife  and  children  of  a  preacher  and  bishop.  It  also  made 
provision  that  at  the  close  of  a  General  Conference,  the  bal- 
ance in  the  hand  of  the  Fnancial  Committee  shall  be  paid 
over  to  the  General  Book  Steward  to  pay  for  the  printing  of 
the  minutes  of  the  General  Conference. 

1860.  The  General  Cenference  of  1860  re-adopted  the 
General  Laws  without  any  special  modifications. 

1864.  The  General  Conference  of  1864  continued  the 
general  collections ;  requested  the  Annual  Conference  to  set 
a  specific  day  to  raise  the  collections  within  its  bounds. 
Annual  Conference  Missionary  Societies  were  authorized  to 


36  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

fix  the  annual  dues,  which  was  fixed  by  a  majority  of  the 
conferences  at  $1.00  Provisions  were  made  to  elect  a  Corres- 
ponding Secretary  to  take  charge  of  the  general  missionary 
work  ot  the  church. 

The  Parent  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  Board  was 
reorganized,  and  Rev.  John  M.  Brown  was  appointed  corres- 
ponding secretary  of  the  society;  Rev.  J.  F.  A.  Session  was 
appointed  agent  to  visit  various  churches  and  collect  mission- 
ary money.  Duriug  this  quadrennium  a  new  activity  was 
given  to  the  missionary  work,  and  as  the  army  advanced  on 
the  South  our  secretaries  and  missionaries  followed  and 
organized  and  re-organized  societies  and  missionary  societies. 
So  that  where  ever  the  American  flag,  representing  freedom 
and  union  was  unfurled,  the  African  Methodist  itinerant 
unfurled  the  banner  ot  the  Cross,  representing  manhood  and 
Christianity. 

During  this  quadrennium  Bishop  D.  A.  Payne  returned  to 
Charleston  and  re-organized  African  Methodism  in  the  home 
of  Bishop  Morris  Brown. 

THE  FINANCIAL  DEPARTMENT. 

1868.  At  the  General  Conference,  convened  at  Wash- 
ington, I).  C,  1868,  it  was  provided  that  each  preacher  should 
collect  one  dollar  ($1.00)  from  each  member  per  annum  ;  that 
twenty-live  (25)  cents  of  the  dollar  be  sent  to  the  general 
book  store;  that  twenty-five  (25)  cents  be  sent  to  the  treas- 
urer of  Wilberforce  University;  and  that  fifty  (50)  cents  be 
carried  to  the  Annual  Conference. 

This  was  the  beginning  of  what  is  now  known  as  the 
"Dollar  Law." 

The  Financial  Department  was  reorganized  in  1872  by 
General  Conference  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  The  Rev.  J.  11.  W. 
Burly  was  elected  Financial  Secretary  and  reported  at  Atlanta, 

1876. 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.   M.   E.   CHURCH. 


37 


RECAPITULATION. 

1876.  Total  Dollar  Money,  J.  II.  W.  Burly,  $     05,558  93 

1880.               "             "             J.  C.  Embry,  99,000  42 

1884.               "             "             B.  W.  Arnett,  175,253  45 

1888.               "             "             B.  W.  Arnett,  220,018  85 

1892.               "             '.'             J.  A.  Handy,  313,34144 

1896.               "             "Jan.  1J.  II.  Armstrong,  335,23166 

Grand  Total,  -         -  $1,248,393  75 

We  call  your  attention  to  the  partial  report  of  the  Finan- 
cial Secretary.     He  speaks  there  of  his  department. 

We  give  you  the  total  amount  by  districts,  calling  your 
attention  to  the  fact  that  the  total  amount  con  not  be  given 
in  the  first  district  as  the 'New  Jersey  Conference  has  not  yet 
convened;  in  the  second  district,  because  the  Baltimore  and 
Virginia  Conferences  have  not  met ;  in  the  eighth  district, 
because  the  Florida  Conferences  have  not  had  their  sessions, 
and  in  the  tenth  district  on  account  of  the  Louisiana  Confer- 
ence not  having  convened. 


First  District, 
Second     " 
Third       " 
Fourth     " 
Fifth 
Sixth 


-  $30,353.61 

22,935.48 

-  14,443.32 
10,614.51 

.-     24,672.38 

87,186.30 


Seventh  District 

Eighth 

Ninth  "     - 

Tenth 

Eleventh      "     - 

Twelfth 


31,621.69 
22,106.96 
38,282.30 
35,866.71 
14,385.05 
2,763.35 


Total,  ....      $335,231.66 

The  Conferences  which  have  not  met,  gave  us  last  year 

about  $15,000.     Should  we  receive  the  same  this  year,  which 

completes     the    Quadrennium,    we    will    have    a    total    of 

$350,231.66. 

Taking  this  into  consideration,  and  as  you  are  aware  of 
the  condition  of  the  country,  and  the  almost  universal  de- 
pression in  the  financial  world,  would  but  convince  us  that 
the  Dollar  Collection  in  our  church  is  more  popular  than  ever. 
From  a  business  standpoint,  the  maintainance  of  our  gen- 


38  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

eral  departments  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  features  of  the 
church,  and  our  collections  and  disbursements  show  our 
ability  to  carry  on  the  material  government  of  the  church. 

According  to  our  present  law,  the  above  amount  should 
be  divided  as  follows : — 54  per  cent,  or  $189,125.09  to  the 
Financial  Department ;  6  per  cent,  or  $21,913.89  to  the 
Church  Extension  Department ;  40  per  cent,  or  $140,092.66 
to  the  Annual  Conferences. 

If  we  consider  the  liabilities  of  the  Financial  Depart- 
ment, making  an  estimate  for  the  salaries  of  ten  Bishops,  for 
the  quadrennium,  we  shall  have  $80,000  ;  for  the  present  staff 
of  General  Officers,  $47,800.  Total  for  salaries,  $127,800, 
leaving  a  balance  to  the  Department  of  $61,319.88. 

I  think  with  the  increased  interest,  all  things  being  equa 
in  the  next  quadrennium,  we  may  confidently  expect  to  so 
increase  the  collection  that  we  will  secure  an  amount  sufficient 
to  meet  all  the  current  expenses,  for  which  this  Department 
is  responsible,  or  in  other  words,  we  may  reasonably  hope  for 
$400,000,  during  the  next  quadrennium. 

We  have  paid  up  to  date,  from  our  54  per  cent,  to  the 
Publishing  House,  $5,702.40  which,  including  the  $10,140  paid 
for  salaries  of  officers  who  run  this  department,  we  have 
given  for  the  support  of  the  House,  $16,140.40.  We  do  think 
that  this  amount  invested  in  the  Publishing  House,  directly 
or  indirectly,  as  a  capital  should  yield  a  profit.  But  we  can- 
not expect  satisfactory  results  without  systematic  application. 

We  have  paid  to  the  Metropolitan  Church  at  Washing- 
ton, $5,220,  but  this  amount  has  only  reduced  the  bonded 
debt,  $4,000,  the  Department  having  paid  $1,220  interest. 
Yet  we  have  received  nothing  by  which  we  could  recover 
this  amount,  if  the  principal  creditors  forclose  the  mortgage, 
the  notes  being  cancelled,  before  they  reached  our  hands.  To 
me  it  is  apparent,  if  the  Metropolitan  Church  is  to  be  saved, 
the  Connection  must  pay  the  principal  indebtness. 

I  would  hazard  this  suggestion. — Why  not  transfer  from 


BISHOPS  OF  THF  A.  M.  E.   CHURCH.  30 

this  department  this  obligation,  and  plaee  it  with  the  Church 
Extension  Society  ? 

If  necessary  supplement  the  Church  Extension  Treasury 
from  this  department,  with  the  amount  acquired  by  the  Phil- 
adelphia Trust  Co.,  for  annual  "payments,  instructing  the 
society  to  pay  or  buy  these  notes,  without  cancellation,  thus 
securing  to  the  connection  an  indisputable  claim  upon  the 
church. 

We  have  paid  for  the  maintainance  of  the  Educational 
Work,  $12,361.99  and  if  we  add  to  this  amount  the  salary 
paid  to  the  Secretary,  we  shall  have  given  the  total  amount 
of  $17,781.99  to  the  support  of  this  work.  When  we  add 
about  $23,000,  disbursed  for  the  same  purpose  by  the  Annual 
Conferences,  from  the  40  per  cent,  we  shall  have  the  very 
respectable  sum  of  $40,781.99.  This  amount  does  not  include 
what  has  been  given  by  the  Ninth  District  during  the  last 
two  years  from  the  40  per  cent.,  for  this  department  has 
received  no  official  report  from  this  district  for  that  time,  of 
the  percentage. 

We  cannot  help  but  think  that  some  change  is  necessary 
in  the  Educational  Department,  and  that  there  might  be  a 
more  systematic  application  of  the  money  accruing  from  the 
dollar  collection  for  this  purpose. 

The  Financial  Secretary,  Rev.  J.  H.  Armstrong,  has 
done  a  grand  work  in  his  department,  and  deserves  the  good 
will  of  the  church  for  his  wise,  economical  and  successful 
administration. 

EDUCATIONAL  DEPARTMENT. 

Louis  Woodson,  of  the  Ohio  Conference,  offered  the  first 
resolution  on  the  subject  of  education  in  18 — . 

The  resolutions  were  sent  to  the  Baltimore,  New  York 
and  Philadelphia  Conferences  and  adopted,  pledging  the 
church  to  the  support  of  education  and  temperance. 

The  subject  was  discussed  in  the  pulpit  by  ministers  and 


40  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

by  laymen,  and  was  finally  crystalized  in  the  organization 
of  the  Union  Seminary  in  1847.  The.  South  having  been 
opened  to  the  spelling  book  and  Bible,  various  schools  were 
organized  throughout  the  church. 

The  General  Conference  of  1876,  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  pro- 
vided for  the  organization  of  a  General  Educational  Board, 
whose  duty  it  was  to  supervise  the  educational  work  of  the 
church.  Rev.  J.  C.  Embry  was  elected  Secretary  of  educa- 
tion.    His  administration  was  wise,  economical  and  honest. 

The  General  Conference  of  1880,  at  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
elected  Rev.  B.  F.  Watson  Commissioner  of  education.  He 
carried  on  the  work  for  two  (2)  years  and  finally  resigned. 

The  Genera]  Conference  of  1884,  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  re- 
organized the  whole  educational  system  on  a  plan  proposed 
by  President  S.  T.  Mitchell.  The  connection  was  divided 
into  four  educational  districts ;  a  secretary  was  to  be  elected 
to  superintend  the  work  of  each  district;  Rev.  W.  D.  John- 
son was  elected  General  Secretary,  to  work  under  the  control 
of  the  General  Educational  Board,  and  to  give  inspiration 
and  direction  wherever  needed. 

A  general  educational  day  was  provided,  called  "  Endow- 
ment Day,"  giving  the  whole  church  an  opportunity  to  con- 
tribute to  the  sacred  cause  of  Christian  Education.  The  fol- 
lowing figures  will  give  you  some  idea  of  what  the  church 
has  done.  We  will  give  you  a  comparative  table  by  districts, 
and  Dr.  W.  D.  Johnson  the  General  Secretary  report  will 
show  the  magnificent  work  accomplished  since  1884. 

AMOUNT    OF    MONEYS    RAISED    FOR    EDUCATION    BY    THE    AFRICAN   M. 
E.    CHURCH    IN    TEN    YEARS,    FROM    1884    TO    1894. 

First  District,  $36,099  68 

Second  District,  -  -        33,114  21 

Third  District,  -  -.  4,552  71 

Fourth  District,  -  -  5,903  21 

Total,  -  -  : —      $79,669  81 


BISHOP  BENJAMIN  W.  ARNETT,   D.  D. 

Born  in  Brownsville,  Pa.,  March  6th,  1838. 
Ordained  Bishop,  May   24th,  1888. 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.   CHURCH.  41 

Twenty-five  per  cent,  to  Gen.  B'd  Ed.  $2,484  38 
By  Conferences  to  Schools,  13,024  76 

Subscriptions  Secretary  Education,        6,677  13 
By  Financial  Secretary,  13,106  92 

Total         -  - 35,293  19 

By  Schools  themselves,         -  $387,629  44 

By  Donations  other  than  acc'ted  for,      17,000  00 

Total,         -  - 404,629  44 


Grand  total,  -  -  -  $519,592  44 

We  would  recommend  that  the  general  educational  sys- 
tem of  the  church  remain  intact.  It  has  been  tried  and  not 
found  wanting.  It  has  commended  itself  to  those  interested 
in  the  work  of  Christian  education.  It  has  been  adopted  in 
a  modified  form  by  a  number  of  the  leading  denominations ; 
and  wherever  it  has  had  a  fair  trial  it  has  worked  well. 
Under  it  we  have  done  more  for  the  cause  of  Christian  edu- 
cation than  in  all  the  history  of  the  church.  The  only  thing 
we  see  to  make  it  more  efficient,  is  to  so  adjust  the  educa- 
tionyl  districts  that  they  will  concentrate  the  local  efforts  of 
our  special  denominational  schools,  and  make,  at  least,  in 
each  district  one  representative  institution ;  for  so  long  as 
the  moneys  collected  in  our  districts  are  given  promiscuously 
to  the  cause  of  education,  it  will  be  impossible  to  accomplish 
the  greatest  good  for  the  greatest  number. 

It  is  our  opinion  that  no  school  should  be  established, 
looking  to  be  supported  by  the  church,  without  first  receiv- 
ing the  recommendation  of  the  conference  in  whose  bounds 
it  is  located  and  the  district  board  which  controls  the  work 
in  that  conference ;  and  then  it  should  have  the  sanction  of 
the  General  Board  of  Education.  We  must  do  this  if  we 
expect  to  make  our  educational  work  a  success.  One  head 
is  all  that  is  needed  for  one  body. 

Ultimate  authority  in  organizing  Schools  should  be 
lodged  in  the  General  Board  of  Education  and  the  General 
Conference. 


42  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

ENDOWMENT  DAY. 

The  Endowment  Day  ought  to  be  continued.  It  has 
been  a  great  benefit  to  our  institutions  of  learning.  It  is 
growing  in  popularity,  and  if  properly  fostered  and  encouraged 
it  will  be  universally  observed.  We  want  to  emphasize  the 
importance  of  this  day :  It  is  the  celebration  of  the  prelimina- 
by  Proclamation  of  Emancipation  by  Abraham  Lincoln,  from 
human  slavery.  In  fact,  this  educational  day  is  an  altar  on 
which  the  emancipated  sons  and  daughters  of  the  race  annu- 
ally lay  their  contributions  for  the  emancipation  of  the 
human  mind  from  ignorance,  and  the  human  heart  from  sin. 
This  day  ought  to  be  to  us  what  the  Passover  was  to  the  an- 
cient Jews ;  we  ought  to  make  it  a  feast  of  holy  Sabbaths 
and  a  general  Jubilee. 

We  would  recommend  that  provision  be  made  in  the  law 
so  that  a  part  of  every  Dollar  raised  on  this  day  shall  be 
sacredly  set  apart  and  used  for  Ministerial  Education,  so  that 
we  might  furnish  a  trained  and  intelligent  ministry  to  preach 
to  our  trained  congregations.  The  time  has  come  when  we 
must  be  able  to  beget  sons  and  daughters  in  our  own  image 
and  after  our  own  likeness.  We  cannot  succeed  as  a  race  nor 
as  a  body  of  christians  until  our  leaders  shall  have  been 
thoroughly  indoctrinated  into  our  laws,  customs  and  habits. 
This  can  only  be  done  by  maintaining  the  Schools  where  the 
love  of  race  and  the  love  of  God  are  both  taught ;  where  the 
Fatherhood  of  God  and  the  Brotherhood  of  Man  are  taught 
y  precept  and  example. 

It  should  be  the  duty  of  each  annual  conference  to  estab- 
lish a  Scholarship  and  to  make  the  necessary  appropriations 
to  sustain  it  in  our  Theological  Seminary.  This  scholarship 
should  be  supplemented  by  the  Financial  Board,  so  that  each 
year  we  would  have  a  large  number  of  trained  men  entering 
into  the  active  work  of  the  Itineracy,  thus  giving  strength, 
aid  and  comfort  to  the  home-trained  men — that  class  that 
lias  done  so  much  for  the   church,  that  have   suffered  priva- 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.   CHURCH  43 

tions  and  labored  without  compensation  in  all  seasons  that 
the  poor  might  have  the  gospel  preached  to  them. 

We  are  pleased  to  inform  you,  that  during  this  Quadren- 
nium  the  per  cent,  of  applicants  into  our  Annual  Confer- 
ences is  higher  than  that  of  any  other  period  of  our  history. 
"We  are  not  only  receiving  good  and  useful  men,  but  also 
intelligent  men.  The  time  has  come  when  we  must  demand 
of  every  man  gifts,  graces,  usefulness  and  intelligence  ;  and 
that  in  sufficient  quantities  to  meet  the  demands  of  our  con- 
gregations that  have  been  trained  in  our  common  schools, 
high  schools,  seminaries,  colleges  and  universities.  We  must 
go  through  and  through,  throw  up  a  highway,  gather  up  the 
stones  and  lift  up  the  standard  before  the  people. 

PAYNE  SEMINARY. 

We  further  recommend  that  ample  provisions  be  made 
for  the  support  and  maintenance  of  Payne  Theological  Semi- 
nary, which  was  established  by  the  concurrent  resolution  and 
consent  of  the  Bishop's  Council,  the  Trustee  Board  of  Wil- 
berforce  University,  the  General  Board  of  Education  and  the 
unanimous  concurrence  of  the  Committee  on  Education  of 
the  General  Conference  of  1892,  which  was  unanimously 
adopted  by  the  General  Conference  and  referred  to  the  Gen- 
eral Board  of  Education  and  the  Einancial  Board  for  its  exe- 
cution. 

Both  Boards  have  done  the  very  best  they  could  under 
all  circumstances  to  carry  out  the  plan  of  ministerial  educa- 
tion, but  they  have  not  been  able  to  meet  all  the  demands  of 
the  Seminary,  consequently  we  have  been  financially  embar- 
rassed and  handicapped  in  our  work.  It  will  be  the  duty  of 
this  General  Conference  to  make  such  appropriations  as  will 
enable  the  Board  of  Directors  to  have  at  least  one  hundred 
(100)  theological  students  in  training  to  meet  the  demand  of 
our  Home  and  Foreign  work. 

We  are   of  the    opinion   that   the   District    Secretaries 


44  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

should  be  elected  by  the  General  Board  of  Education,  to 
whom  they  should  report  annually,  and  at  the  same  time  be 
ex-officio  members  of  the  General  Board  of  Education.  This 
plan  would  strengthen  the  Board  and  concentrate  the  entire 
work  of  the  Church,  provided  that  the  District  Secretary 
shall  be  elected  from  his  educational  district. 

It  is  argued  by  some  that  the  "Secretary  of  Education" 
ought  to  be  abolished.  We  do  not  concur  in  that  opinion. 
What  is  needed  is  to  define  the  duties  of  the  Secretary,  so 
that  he  will  become  the  educational  head  of  the  Church  in 
fact  as  well  as  in  theory.  He  ought  to  be  General  Educational 
Inspector,  Counselor  and  Director,  going  from  school  to  school, 
delivering  lectures  to  the  teachers,  instructing  and  inspiring 
the  students  in  the  college,  as  well  as  fill  a  chair  in  our  theo- 
logical corps. 

It  is  a  historical  fact  that  we  wTere  the  first  in  the  histo- 
ry of  this  country  to  appoint  an  Educational  Secretary  for 
the  general  church.  Most  of  the  larger  denominations  have 
followed  us,  and  now  their  educational  work  is  presided  over 
by  an  Educational  Secretary.  It  is  too  late  in  the  day  for  us 
to  order  a  retreat,  but  "Forward!"  should  be  our  watchword. 

MINISTERIAL  EDUCATION. 

That  the  moral  and  religious  leaders  and  teachers  of  the 
people  should  be  trained,  is  self  evident,  and  is  in  harmony 
with  the  demands  of  the  age,  wise  statemanship,  and  church- 
manship,  for  as  a  disciplined  army  demands  a  disciplined 
commander,  so  an  intelligent  and  trained  pew  demands  a 
good,  intelligent  and  trained  minister. 

The  leaders  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church  from  its  beginning 
recognized  the  necessity  of  an  intelligent  organization  and  a 
wise  administration  of  the  laws,  usages  and  customs  of 
Methodism ;  therefore,  they  have  always  in  a  greater  or  less 
degree,  encouraged  and  supported  the  education  of  the  people, 
and  have  been  the  pioneers  of  ministerial  education,  indus- 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.  CHURCH.  45 

trial  training  and  normal  schools,  where  some  were  taught 
how  to  teach  others. 

EDUCATIONAL  PROGRESS. 

1839.  The  First  Episcopal  Address  on  the  subject  of 
ministerial  education  was  issued  August  1st,  1839,  by  Bishop 
Morris  Brown  and  Edward  Waters  and  signed  by  George 
Hogarth  as  general  book  stewart  from  Brooklyn,  New  York. 

In  the  address  they  present  the  claims  of  the  "  aged,  sick 
and  worn  out  traveling  preachers,"  appealing  for  aid  for  them 
in  the  time  of  their  needs. 

Then  they  use  the  following  language  in  relation  to  the 
educating  of  the  ministers  : — 

"  The  claims  of  our  young  men,  too,  for  aid  to  sustain 
them  while  they  are  preparing  themselves  for  the  ministry 
(that  they  may  become  approved  workmen  in  the  Lord's 
vineyard)  are  urged  upon  you,  as  the  future  prosperity  of  the 
church  and  of  generations  to  come  is  dependent  upon  the  care 
we  now  take  in  raising  up  suitable  teachers  for  our  people, 
well  qaulified  in  every  respect.  We,  therefore,  sincerely  trust 
that  you  will  unhesitatingly  lend  us  your  aid,  dear  brethren, 
in  this  laudable  cause,  as  it  is  no  other  than  the  cause  of  God." 

1844.  It  is  a  very  great  pleasure  for  us  to  inform  you 
that  the  Rev.  Matthew  T.  E"ewsome  offered  a  resolution  in 
the  Ohio  Annual  Conference,  September  21st,  1844,  for  the 
establishment  of  a  school  for  intellectual  and  industrial 
training. 

The  following  is  the  report  of  the  committee  at  the  Ohio 
Conference  in  1845  : — 

"  We,  your  committee  appointed  by  the  Ohio  Annual  Con- 
ference of  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  met  in 
the  city  of  Columbus,  September  17th,  1844,  to  select  a  tract 
of  land  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  seminary  of  learning,  on 
the  manual  labor  plan,  for  the  instruction  of  the  youths 
among  us  in  the  various  branches  of  literature,  science, 
agriculture  and  mechanic  arts,  and  also  for  those  young  men 
who  may  desire  to  prepare  for  the  ministry.  Being  destitute 
of  means  to  pay  our  traveling  expenses  to  the  state  of  Michi- 


46  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

gan  to  seek  its  location,  we  have  selected  one  in  Franklin 
County,  state  of  Ohio,  twelve  miles  west  of  Columbus  and 
two  miles  north  of  the  National  Road,  containing  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy -two  acres  of  land,  which  can  be  purchased 
for  $1,720,  to  be  paid  in  installments. 

M.  T.  Newsum,      ] 

Lewis  Adams,  V  Committee" 

Thomas  Lawrence,  J 

1845.  The  subject  of  education  was  discussed  before  the 
Baltimore  and  Philadelphia  Conference  in  1845,  and  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions  were  passed : — 

"  Whereas,  The  sacred  cause  of  education  is  of  such  vital 
importance  to  the  interest  of  the  church  in  particular,  and  to 
the  world  in  general,  that  instead  of  being  contented  with 
what  little  we  have  done,  we  feel  it  our  duty  to  make  new 
and  greater  efforts  to  advance  its  cause  among  us  in  such  a 
way  as  will  result  in  a  general  diffusion  of  its  blessings  among 
our  benighted  race  ;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  1st.  That  we  recommend  to  our  ministers  and 
people  the  importance  of  holding  a  general  convention  in  the 
city  of  Philadelphia  on  the  30th  day  of  October  next,  for  the 
purpose  of  forming  a  literary  institution  and  devising  such 
other  measures  as  will  place  the  cause  of  education  among  us 
on  a  solid  and  lasting  foundation,  so  that  all  our  people,  in  a 
greater  or  less  degree,  may  hereafter  enjoy  its  benign  influence. 

Resolved,  2nd.  That  there  be  central  committees  formed 
for  the  purpose  of  carrying  into  effect  the  object  embraced  in 
the  first  resolution  and  that  this  committee  shall  have  the 
power  to  appoint  sub-committees  in  other  places,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  securing  a  general  attendance  of  all  persons  of  influ- 
ence and  means  among  us." 

1845.  The  National  Educational  Convention  was  held 
in  Philadelphia,  October  3d,  1845.  Rev.  Daniel  A.  Payne  was 
present,  and  used  the  following  language  in  his  address : 

PREAMBLE. 

"  Whereas,  The  cause  of  education  is  of  such  vital  impor- 
tance to  the  interest  of  the  church  in  particular,  and  the  work 
generally,  that  instead  of  being  content  with  what  little  we 
have  done,  we  feel  it  our  bounden  duty  to  make  a  new  and 
greater  efforts  to  advance  it  in  such  a  way  as  will  result  in 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.   CHURCH.  47 

the  general  diffusion  of  its  blessings  amongst  our  benighted 
race  ;  therefore, 

Resolved.  That  inasmuch  as  there  is  being  established  a 
high  school  in  the  western  section  of  the  Connection  for  our 
special  benefit,  we  hereby  constitute  ourselves,  who  are  mem- 
bers of  this  convention,  "  A  Parent  Education  Society,"  for 
the  purpose  of  aiding  poor,  pious  and  talented  young  men  in 
their  preparation  for  the  gospel  ministry  in  that  institution,  or 
such  other  institution  as  shall  be  selected  by  the  persons 
hereinafter  appointed  for  that  purpose." 

"  Qualified  candidates  may  be  aided  in  each  stage  of  pre- 
paratory eduction  for  the  ministry;  but,  except  in  very  singu- 
lar cases,  no  applicant  shall  be  assisted  in  the  first  stage  who 
has  not  produced,  from  serious  and  respectable  characters, 
unequivocal  testimonials  of  his  hopeful  piety,  promising  tal- 
ents and  real  diligence ;  nor  shall  any  person  be  continued  on 
this  foundation  whose  instructor  or  instructors,  except  in 
very  special  cases,  shall  not  annually  exhibit  to  the  directors 
satisfactory  evidence  that  in  point  of  genius,  diligence,  literary 
progress,  morals  and  piety,  he  is  a  proper  character  to  receive 
aid  from  the  sacred  funds;  in  addition  to  which  each  benefi- 
ciary, after  his  admission  to  any  college,  shall  annually  exhibit 
to  the  directors  a  written  declaration  that  it  continues  to  be  his 
serious  purpose  to  devote  his  life  to  the  gospel  ministry  in  the 
African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church." 

John  M.  Brown  a  student  in  Oberlin  College,  wrote  from 
there  to  the  magazine,  urging  the  necessity  of  education,  and 
used  the  following  language  : 

"  The  various  resolutions  on  the  subject  of  education, 
passed  at  preceeding  annual  conferences,  should  be  put  in 
action,  for  until  there  is  action  on  the  subject  it  will  be  im- 
possible to  accomplish  anything. 

Literary  institutions  should  be  selected  by  our  confer- 
ences, to  which  those  of  our  young  men  whom  we  shall  here- 
after choose  as  candidates  for  the  ministry  may  be  sent,  that 
they  may  become  prepared  for  the  work. 

I  want  to  see  our  young  men  come  up  filled  with  the 
Holy  Ghost  and  cultivated  minds.  They  must  build  up  the 
foundation  thus  laid  by  our  venerable  fathers.  The  names  of 
those  noble-hearted  pioneers  will  long  be  borne  in  mind. 
Generations  yet  unborn  will  call  them  blessed.     Three  years, 


48  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  TH& 

I  think,  with  proper  attention  on  the  part  of  the  student,  will 
accomplish  this.  Will  our  brethern  act  upon  this  important 
point  without  delay?  Try,  dear  brother,  and  urge  it  upon 
them ;  for  I  consider  it  the  mainspring  of  all  our  future 
actions  and  the  life  of  our  church." 

UNION  SEMINARY. 

In  1847,  the  Ohio  Conference  opened  the  first  public 
school  of  the  race  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  the  month  of  Sep- 
tember. Rev.  John  M.  Brown  was  principal  and  Miss 
Frances  Ellen  Watkins,  assistant  principal.  They  continued 
their  work  for  several  years.  They  were  the  pioneers  of  all 
the  negro  teachers  in  the  church  schools  whether  by  white  or 
colored.  It  was  the  first  school  where  our  girls  were  taught 
domestic  economy,  and  our  boys  handicraft. 

The  ministers  and  members  of  the  Ohio  Conference  sup- 
ported this  school  from  1856  to  1863;  they  also  co-operated 
with  the  M.  E.  Church  in  controling  and  supporting  Wilber- 
force  University. 

The  year  1863  is  the  beginning  of  the  epoch  of  freedom 
of  the  American  Negro.  It  is  also  the  beginning  of  the  edu- 
cational epoch  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church.  We  took  charge  of  the 
educational  ship  and  have  succeeded  under  God  in  bringing 
it  to  this  General  Conference  without  the  loss  of  a  man  or 
sail.  Every  interest  has  been  preserved,  and  every  institu- 
tion still  lives.  It  is  true  some  rested  on  boards  and  some  on 
broken  pieces,  but  they  have  all  reached  the  shore. 

RECOMMENDATIONS. 

After  considering  the  subject,  we  recommend  that  the 
education  of  the  ministry  of  the  church  be  placed  under  the 
general  supervision  of  one  of  the  bishops  who  shall  have  full 
power  to  see  that  the  course  of  study  laid  down  by  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  be  pursued  by  the  probationary  members  of 
the  various  annual  conferences,  and  to  organize  and  superin- 
tend the  primary  work  of  the  theological  training  in  our 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M-  E.  CHURCH.  49 

several  institutions  and  Payne  Theological  Seminary.  He 
also  shall  superintend  the  English  course  in  the  various 
schools,  and  when  they  shall  have  completed  the  said  course, 
he  shall  use  his  best  endeavors  to  have  them  take  and  com- 
plete the  higher  and  regular  course,  and  graduate  from  Payne 
Theological  Seminary. 

We  would  recommend  that  when  a  student  has  complet- 
ed the  English  Course  in  theology,  that  he  receive  a  certifi- 
cate of  proficiency  and  that  diplomas  only  be  given  to  one 
who  has  completed  the  regular  and  full  course. 

We  further  recommend  that  a  Correspondence  School  of 
Theology  be  established  in  each  Annual  Conference,  and  that 
semi-annual  examinations  take  place  at  each  District  Confer- 
ence. These  schools  are  to  be  established  for  the  benefit  of 
those  who  cannot  attend  our  institutions,  so  that  if  they  can- 
not attend  the  Theological  Seminary  we  shall  bring  the  The- 
ological Seminary  to  them. 

We  trust  that  these  recommendations  will  meet  the 
hearty  approval  of  those  who  feel  their  responsibility  to  the 
Church  and  its  ministry. 

The  time  has  come  in  the  history  of  the  church  and  race 
that  a  trained  congregation  or  people  will  not  long  follow  an 
untrained  leader. 

SUNDAY  SCHOOL  UNION. 

The  education  of  the  children  in  the  Sunday  School  is 
a  very  important  part  of  the  work  of  the  Church.  One  of 
the  reasons  why  the  Church  was  ecclesiastically  organized  in 
the  house  of  Abraham  was  that  he  was  to  covenant  with  God 
that  he  would  teach  the  laws  unto  the  children  :  "  For  I 
know  him,  that  he  will  command  his  children  and  his  house- 
hold after  him,  and  they  shall  keep  the  way  of  the  Lord  to 
do  justice  and  judgment  that  the  Lord  might  bring  upon 
Abraham  that  which  He  had  spoken  of  him." 

Jesus  said  unto  Peter  :  "  Feed  my  lambs." 


50  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

Hannah  Ball  gathered  the  children  together  and  formed 
a  class  in  the  eighteenth  century. 

Robert  Raikes  organized  the  children  in  1781. 

Bishop  Asbury  organized  the  first  Sunday  School  in 
America  in  the  house  of  Thomas  Crenshaw  in  1786.  The 
first  convert  was  a  colored  boy  by  the  name  of  John  Charles- 
ton. He  was  a  slave ;  he  became  a  local  preacher.  Smith 
Stead,  a  traveling  preacher  in  the  Methodist  church,  purchased 
him  and  liberated  him.  After  his  liberation  he  removed  to 
the  State  of  Ohio,  joined  the  A.  M.  E.  Church,  became  an 
itinerant  preacher,  was  a  member  of  the  General  Conference 
in  1836,  and  died  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  in  the  year  1838,  in  the 
triumph  of  faith. 

Richard  Allen  was  a  pioneer  in  the  work  of  Sunday 
Schools.  As  early  as  1796,  a  day  school  and  a  night  school 
were  maintained  by  the  m.embers  of  Bethel  church,  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.  It  is  a  difficult  matter  to  designate  the  oldest 
of  our  denominational  schools  outside  of  Bethel.  Our  min- 
isters have  always  been  progressive,  and  were  the  very  first 
of  the  race  to  adopt  plans  and  agencies  for  its  elevation. 

In  1874  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Coleman  organized  the  first 
Sunday  School  Institute  at  Felicity,  Ohio. 

In  1876  the  General  Conference  provided  for  Annual 
Conference  Sunday  School  Institutes. 

'In  1880  provisions  were  made  for  Presiding  Elders'  Su". 
day  School  Institutes.  ( 

Rev.  C.  S.  Smith,  in  1882,  presented  a  plan  for  the  organ- 
ization for  a  "  Sunday  School  Union"  ;  the  Bishops'  Council 
adopted  it  after  mature  deliberation,  and  appointed  him  the 
first  Secretary.  The  wisdom  of  the  appointment  and  the 
adoption  of  the  plan  have  been  demonstrated  in  the  marvel- 
ous and  monumental  success  of  the  department.  No  organ- 
ized efforts  of  the  Church  have  called  forth  so  many  encom- 
iums and  congratulations  as  the  work  of  its  honored  Secretary. 
They  have  all  been  well  deserved  and  the  Church  is  under  a 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.   CHURCH.  51 

lasting  debt  of  gratitude  to  the  man  who  conceived,  organ- 
ized and  developed  a  department  to  supply  the  demands  of 
the  coming  Church  ;  to  furnish  an  original  literature,  lesson 
leaves,  aids  to  the  study  of  the  Bible,  golden  texts  for  every 
lesson  of  the  year,  and  an  exposition  of  uniform  lessons  by 
the  Theological  Professor  of  Payne  Theological  Seminary. 

We  call  your  attention  to  the  following  facts  and  figures 
as  presented  by  the  Secretary  in  his  Quadrennial  Report,  and 
trust  that  you  will  consider  them  aid  make  such  provisions 
as  will  strengthen  this  department  and  make  it  more 
efficient. 


52 


THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 


Statement  of  the  Receipts  and  ^Expenditures  of  the  Sunday 

School  Union  of  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 

for  the  10th,  11th,  12th  and  part  of  the  13th  Fiscal 

Years,  from  March  31,  1892,  to  Dec.  31,  1896. 


TABULATED     FROM     THE     RECORDS       BY     C.     S.      SMITH,      SECRETARY 

AND    TREASURER. 


Receipts  for  Fiscal  Year  Ending 
March  31, 1893. 


16  526  19 

2  500  00 

2  111  11 

$22  411  76 
20  350  83 

Balance 

$2  060  93" 

Receipts  for  Fiscal  Year  Ending 
March  31, 1894. 

To  Balance  March  31, 1893 $  2  060  93 

Business 17  250  12 

Loans  5  753  44 

Childrens's  Day  Money 2  478  94 


$27  543  43 
Expenses 23  749  88 

Balance $3  793  55 

Receipts  for  Fiscal  Year  Ending 
March  31, 1895. 


To  Balance  March  31, 1895 $  1  209  35 

Business  for  9  months 11  728  50 

Children's  Day  Money 1  800  00 

$ 14  737  85 
By  Expense  for  nine  months 13  608  58 

Balance  Dec.  31,  1895 $1  129  27 


SUMMARY. 

To  Balance  March  31, 1S92 $  1  274  46 

Business  for  3  years,  9  months  60  649  02 

Children's  Day 9  065  60 

Loans 8  253  44 


$79  242  52 
By  Expense  3  years,  9  months 78  113  25 

Balance  Dec.  31,  1895  $1  129  27 


Total  to  Business  for  3  years,  9 
months  of  the  present  Quadren- 
nium 

Total  to  Business  for  Quadrenium 
ending  March  31,  1892 

Gain   


$60  649  02 


57  963  62 

$2  685  40 


To  Balance  March  31, 1894 $  3  793  55 

Business 15  144  21 

Children's  Day  Money 2  675  55 

$21  613  31 
20  403  96 


Expenses 

Balance. 


$1  209  35 


Total  Receipts  to  Children's  Day 

for  Quadrennium  ending  March 

31,  1892 $24  659  43 

Total    Receipts   for  the   present 


Quadrennium 
Loss    


9  065  60 

$15  593  83 


The  above  figures  show  that  we  have  gained  in  receipts  to  the  business  for  three  years  and 
nine  months  $2,685.40  over  the  entire  receipts  for  the  last  Quadrennium,  while  on  account  of 
division  we  have  lost  in  Children's  Day  receipts  $15,593  83. 

The  above  does  not  include  any  account  of  the  "  Insurance  Fund,"  as  that  will  be  reported  in 
a  separate  statement  by  the  Local  Board  of  Managers  who  directed  its  expenditure. 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.   CHURCH. 


53 


The 

follow 

ing  figures  show 

the    power  of 

Child  Organiz 

ution  from  1384  to  1895  : 

1884  Children' 

s  Day  Collection.. 

....     $  2  278  68 

1885 

u 

'• 

•' 

4  764  48 

1886 

" 

n 

" 

4  513  08 

1887 

u 

4  362  98 

$15  919  22 

1888 

" 

(f 

« 

$  4  040  98 

1889 

" 

" 

t< 

6  043  70 

1890 

tc 

it 

<c 

7  523  68 

1891 

7  051  28 

$24  659  64 

1892 

(t 

•  i 

u 

$  2  111  11 

1893 

" 

a 

(( 

2  478  94 

1894 

it 

" 

(C 

2  675  55 

1895 

it 

total  ... 

i( 

1  800  00 

1 

...    *  9  065  60 

The  following  will  show  the  gratifying  de- 
velopment of  the  Business  of  the  Sunday 
School  Union  from  1881  to  1895  : 

1884  to  1885  Business $    629  13 

1885  to  1886          "  2  831  50 

1886  to  1887          "  8  147  19 

1887  to  1888          "  10  397  00 


Church  Extension  Society ,.      9  065  60 

$18  131  20 
Grand  Total  Children's  Day  Collec- 
tion from  1884  to  1895 $49  644  47 

By  Church  Extension  Society 9  644  47 


Total $22  034  83 

1888  to  1889  Business $12  969  50 

1889  to  1890          "  11  740  78 

1890  to  1891          "  15  501  04 

1891  to  1892          "  17  752  30 

Total $57  963  62 

1892  to  1893  Business  $16  526  19 

1893  to  1894          "  17  250  12 

1894  to  1895          "  15  144  21 

1895  to  1896          "        (9  months)  11  728  50 


Total $60  649  02 


Grand  Total $140  647  47 

Grand  Total  Children  Day 49  644  47 


Grand  Total $59 


91 


Great  Grand  Total $190  291  94 

CORPORATE  WEALTH. 

The  Corporate  Wealth  of  our  Church  has  been  largely 
increased  during  the  present  Quadrennium.  The  loyal  mem- 
bers have  been  impelled  with  a  zeal,  manifesting  a  liberality 
hitherto  unknown.  They  have  made  great  sacrifices  to  build, 
rebuild,  to  model  and  remodel,  to  furnish  and  refurnish  their 
places  of  worship  in  the  most  magnificent  and  elegant  style. 
Our  pastors  have  been  wise  and  progressive  in  their  leader- 
ship in  the  temporal  concerns  of  the  Church.  While  we  re- 
joice at  these  improvements,  we  caution  our  pastors  and  peo- 
ple to  remember  one  of  the  cardinal  doctrines  of  Methodism  : 
never  go  into  debt  without  a  probability  of  paying  for  what 
you  get.  It  would  be  better  to  worship  God  in  a  plain  and 
commodious  house,  without  a  debt,  than  to  serve  Him  in  a 
fine  house  weighed  down  with  a  heavy  debt.  Our  first  house 
of  worship  was  built  by  Richard  Allen  and  dedicated  by  Bish- 
op Asbury  in  1794.  The  following  table  will  show  the  won- 
derful progress  made  since  then. 


54  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  0<    THE 


Number  of  Churches. 

Valuation  of  Property, 

1794, 

- 

1 

- 

$          2,500 

1816,      - 

- 

7 

- 

-     -            15,000 

1826, 

- 

33 

- 

75,000 

1836,      - 

- 

86 

- 

-     -          125,000 

1846, 

-       - 

198 

- 

225,000 

1856,     - 

- 

210 

- 

-     -          425,000 

1866, 

- 

286 

- 

825,000 

1876,      - 

- 

1,833 

- 

-     -       3,164,911 

1886, 

- 

3,394 

- 

-       5,341,889 

1888,     - 

- 

4,009 

- 

-     -       6,391,577 

1890, 

- 

4,069 

- 

-       7,772,284 

1896,      - 

- 

4,575 

- 

-     -       8,650,155 

CHURCH  EXTENSION. 

The  last  General  Conference  provided  for  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Church  Extension  Society.  After  its  adjourn- 
ment the  Bishops  selected  Rev,  C.  T.  Shaffer,  Secretary,  and 
organized  the  same.  His  report  gives  the  following  results 
of  his  very  efficient  labors.  He,  Bishop  A.  Grant,  and  the 
Board  of  Managers  deserve  the  thanks  of  this  honorable 
body  for  the  work  accomplished. 

RECEIPTS    OF    THE    CHURCH    EXTENSION    DEPARTMENT. 

1892-3,           -             -             -             -•       $  4,851.77 

1893-4, 11,896.56 

1894-5,             -             -         -             -         -  11,581.95 

1895-6,  May,  Dec.  31st,           -           -         -  9,320.34 


Total, $37,650.62 

Disbursements,         -  31,537.21 


Dec.  31,  '95,  balance  in  hand,         -         -     $  6,113.41 

The  final  report  of  the  Secretary  will  bring  the  figures 
Gown  to  the  end  of  the  fiscal  year. 

The  following  figures  will  give  a  very  gratifying  condi- 
tion of  the   assets   of  the  department,   which   are   loans   on 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.   CHURCH.  55 

churches,  schools,  &c,  $22,110.88,  with  a  cash  balance  of 
$6,113.41,  which  will  be  increased  after  the  meeting  of  several 
Animal  Conferences  and  the  final  result  in  the  Secretary's 
report. 

The  Secretary  has  received  from  34  Annual  Conferences 
$7,273.55  of  the  10  per  cent,  of  the  40  per  cent,  of  the  Dollar 
Money. 

We  recommend  that  the  law  be  so  changed  that  the 
Church  Extension  shall  receive  10  per  cent,  of  the  whole  Dol- 
lar instead  of  10  per  cent,  of  the  60  per  cent,  of  the  Dollar, 
believing  that  it  will  be  for  the  best  interest  of  the  whole 
Church. 

We  further  recommend  that  the  Church  Extension  Soci- 
ety shall  hold  an  anniversary  meeting  during  the  tetting  of 
each  Annual  Conference,  in  order  to  inspire  the  ministers  and 
inform  the  people  of  the  object  and  aim  of  the  Church  Ex- 
tension Society. 

We  recommend  that  the  salary  of  the  Secretary  of  the 
Church  Extension  be  paid  out  of  the  treasury  of  the  said 
society. 

THINGS  TO  REMEMBER. 

Dear  Brethren  : — There  are  some  things  that  we  desire 
to  say  through  you  to  the  ministers  and  members  of  the  church 
which  relate,  we  think,  to  the  success  of  the  mission  of  the 
church.  In  some  places  we  find  there  is  a  tendency  to  un- 
derrate the  prayer  meeting, — a  tendency  to  rely  on  self  rather 
than  on  God.  The  lessons  of  the  history  of  the  church  is 
that  the  strongest  men  of  the  past  were  men  of  prayer, — men 
who  relied  on  the  Divine  arm.  Daniel  was  a  praying  man; 
Elijah  brought  fire  from  heaven  by  prayer ;  Paul  and  Silas 
were  released  from  prison  by  prayer;  Luther  won  his  vic- 
tories by  faith  and  prayer ;  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1739 
Wesley  called  a  meeting  of  eight  or  ten  persons  to  pray,  and 
the  result  was  the  organization  of  Methodism.  In  1766 
Philip  Embry,  Barbara  Heck  and  Aunt  Bettv  met  in   New 


56  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

York  City  to  pray,  and  American  Methodism  was  born.  In 
1766  Robert  Strawbridge,  Aunt  Annie  and  ten  others  met  on 
Sam's  Creek,  Md.,  and  the  tree  of  Methodism  was  planted. 
In  1787  Richard  Allen  and  his  associates  were  taken  up  from 
their  knees  while  at  prayer ;  they  left  St.  George  that  they 
might  build  an  altar  where  they  could  pray  to  God  for  the 
deliverance  of  their  brethren  in  bonds.  God  heard  the 
prayers  of  the  Fathers  ;  He  answered  by  His  lightning  in  the 
flames  of  war  and  the  thunders  of  the  artillery  ;  He  answered 
and  the  prison  doors  were  opened,  and  the  bondmen  and  the 
bondwomen  walked  out  in  the  morning  of  freedom. 

These  sacred  altars,  with  their  perpetual  fire,  have  been 
committed  to  the  ministry  and  members  of  our  church.  It 
is  the  imperative  duty  of  our  ministers  to  see  that  the  fires 
do  not  go  out;  the  members  to  see  that  the  altars  are  not  de- 
serted. We  need  no  strange  fires,  and  want  no  new  altars. 
Let  us  pray  that  the  fire  of  the  Holy  Ghost  may  fall  upon 
bishops,  elders  and  members  as  it  did  on  the  day  of  Pente- 
cost, and  let  us  go  out  from  this  place  with  "  cloven  tongues" 
of  fire,  proclaiming  the  gospel  of  peace  and  good- will  between 
man  and  man,  family  and  family,  race  and  race,  nation  and 
nation — between  heaven  and  earth. 

We  would  next  call  your  attention  to  the 

"CLASS    MEETING," 

a  weekly  conference  of  the  members,  where  the  soldiers  re- 
port at  roll  call ;  where  the  wounded  are  cared  for,  the  sick 
sent  to  the  hospital,  the  well  sent  to  the  field  to  continue  the 
fight  against  the  world,  the  flesh  and  the  devil ;  the  faint- 
hearted are  encouraged;  broken  hearts  are  bound  up;  the 
deserters  are  missed  and  their  arrest  ordered,  and  rescuing 
bands  are  sent  out  to  bring  in  the  stragglers. 

We  cannot  afford  to  do  away  with  our  class  meetings ; 
they  must  be  encouraged,  the  efficiency  of-  the  army  com- 
mitted to  our  care  demands  a  weekly  inspection  of  the  sol- 


BISHOP  BENJAMIN  TUCKER   TANNER,  D.   D.    LL.  D. 

Born  December  25th,  1835,  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 
Ordained  Bishop,  May  24th,  1888. 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.   M.  E.   CHURCH.  57 

diers,  his  weapons  and  success.  Let  every  body  attend  class 
meeting. 

We  are  sorry  to  say  that  the 

"  LOVE    FEAST  " 

is  not  held  with  the  same  veneration  and  love  as  it  was  by 
the  pioneers  of  Methodism.  We  recommend  that  both  min- 
isters and  laymen  return  to  primitive  lovefeast,  introduce 
lovefeast  tickets,  allow  none  to  be  admitted  save  those  who 
desire  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come.  Let  us  have  a  judg- 
ment every  quarter — a  separate  day.  It  would  be  an  object 
lesson  to  saint  and  sinner.  This  is  one  of  the  sacred  land- 
marks of  the  fathers,  and  should  not  be  removed  to  satisfy 
the  cold,  lukewarm  and  indifferent. 

We  call  the  attention  of  the  church  to  the  sacrament 
of  the 

"  lord's  supper." 

It  is  one  of  the  most  sacred  of  all  the  Divine  ordinances. 
There  should  be  an  effort  put  forth  by  the  ministers  and 
members  to  make  it  a  solemn  feast,  a  consecration  of  life  and 
talent  to  the  service  of  God, — a  rebinding  to  the  Cross  at 
Calvary  ;  in  fact  a  "  Eucharistic  feast." 

We  recommend  the-use  of  unfermented  wine  and  un- 
leavened bread  at  the  Lord's  Supper.  We  must  not  allow 
this  feast  to  become  common,  but  let  it  be  celebrated  as  a 
monumental  testimony  of  the  sufferings  and  death  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 

"  CHRISTIAN    BAPTISM." 

The  origin  of  baptism  as  a  religious  rite  is  lost  in  the 
mist  of  antiquity.  Ablution  in  some  form  was  a  universal, 
oriental  custom.  In  Egypt,  Greece  and  Rome  it  was  a  prep- 
aration for  prayer  ;  among  the  Jews  it  was  a  sign  of  purifica- 
tion ;  John  the  Baptist  said,  "  I  baptize  you  with  water  unto 
repentance ;  but  there  cometh  one  after  me  who  shall  baptize 
you  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  with  fire."  Christ,  in  sending 
out  his  disciples,  said:  "  Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach 


58  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

the  gospel  to  every  creature.  lie  that  believeth  and  is  bap- 
tized shall  be  saved;  but  he  that  believeth  not  shall  be 
damned." — Mark  16  :  15,  16.  The  commission  to  the  apostles 
is  the  commission  to  every  minister  of  the  gospel  to-day. 
We  are  to  preach  it  to  every  creature.  We  will  not  discuss 
the  four  issues  between  the  Baptists  and  the  Pedobaptist  in 
this  address ;  but  it  is  the  duty  of  every  minister  to  present 
them  to  his  congregation,  so  that  they  may  have  an  intelli- 
gent explanation  of  the  Methodistic  idea  on  the  following 
questions: 

First.     What  is  the  significance  of  Baptism? 

Second.     Who  are  the  proper  subjects  of  baptism? 

Third.     What  is  the  proper  method  of  baptism? 

Fourth.  Is  baptism  an  essential  pre-requisite  to  partici- 
pation in  the  Lord's  Supper? 

The  members  of  our  church  have  a  right  to  expect  of  the 
ministry  to  furnish  answers  to  these  controversal  interroga- 
tions. In  the  name  of  the  rising  generation,  we  urge  upon 
the  parents  the  necessity  and  duty  to  give  their  children  to 
God  and  the  church,  by  Christian  baptism. 

We  would  suggest  that  this  General  Conference  set 
apart  a  Sunday  in  the  year  when  all  parents  connected  with 
our  church  shall  present  all  unbaptized  children  for  Christian 
baptism.  "  Children's  Day"  would  be  a  good  day  to  register 
the  infant  members  of  the  church  and  to  gather  the  lambs  of 
the  flock  into  the  fold,  where  they  would  come  under  the 
watch  care  o±  the  shepherds  and  receive  instruction  on  their 
duties  to  themselves,  parents,  society,  country  and  God. 

THE  SEED  TIME. 

During  the  past  Quadrennium  God  has  wonderfully  blest 
the  labors  of  our  ministry  and  graciously  answered  the  pray- 
ers of  the  faithful,  and  many  sons  and  daughters  have  been 
born  into  the  kingdom  of  grace  and  are  now  on  their  way  to 
glory. 

The  increase  of  pur  members  has  been  greater  than  any 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.   M.  E.   CHURCH.  59 

four  years  in  our  eventful  history,  for  which  let  us  all  thank 
God. 

It  is  possible  for  us  to  give  you  the  numbers  who  have 
attached  themselves  to  our  church,  but  we  cannot  give  you 
any  adequate  conception  of  the  joy  that  has  been  brought  to 
the  hearts  and  homes  of  our  people. 

Our  ministers  went  forth  "weeping,"  "  bearing  precious 
seed,"  sowed  beside  all  waters,  withholding  not  their  haudfc 
morning,  noon  nor  evening,  trusting  God  to  send  dew,  rain 
and  sunshine ;  and  the  grand  result  has  been  glorious 

"  REVIVALS," 

sinners  converted,  backsliders  reclaimed,  weak-ankled  Christ- 
ians strengthened,  believers  built  up  in  the  faith  once  de- 
livered to  the  saints. 

We  trust  that  before  we  leave  this  place  that  we  will 
have  a  tidal  wave  of  salvation  that  will  baptize  all  our  hearts, 
and  continue  its  flow  until  it  reaches  every  minister  and 
member  throughout  the  world. 

The  members  of  our  Church  are  surrounded  with  world- 
ly customs  and  influences  which  are  not  in  harmony  with  the 
teachings  of  Methodism,  nor  with  Christianity,  as  we  think. 
The  world  is  trying  to  popularize  and  christianize  dancing, 
card-playing,  wine-drinking  and  attending  popular  amuse- 
ments. We  believe  that  the  best  interests  of  the  young  and 
rising  generation  is  to  stand  by  the  landmarks  cf  the  fathers 
and  make  no  unholy  alliances,  compromises  or  affiliation  with 
the  questionable  and  sinful  habits  and  practices  of  the  v  orld. 

THE  WHITE  RIBBON. 

The  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union  was  organ- 
ized in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  1874,  and  is  the  sober  second  thought 
of  the  Woman's  Crusade.  Its  object  is  :  "  To  unify  through- 
out the  world  the  work  of  Women  in  Temperance  and  Social 
Reform  ;  to  circulate  a  petition  addressed  to  all  the  govern- 
ments of  the  world  for  the    overthrow  of  alcohol   and  the 


60  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

opium  trades.  Its  methods  of  operation  :  preventative,  edu- 
cational, evangelistic,  social  and  legal.  Their  watchwords 
are,  "Agitate  and  organize,"  and  their  motto,  "For  God  and 
Home  and  Every  Land." 

We  are  in  sympathy  with  this  movement  because  we 
recognize  it  to  be  an  auxiliary  to  the  Church  in  its  efforts  to 
suppress  the  rum  traffic.  It  has  secured  the  passage  of  laws 
in  almost  every  State  of  the  Union,  requiring  scientific  in- 
struction of  the  effect  of  alcohol  upon  the  human  system, 
thus  hanging  the  danger  signal  on  every  school-house,  on 
every  home  and  on  every  college  in  the  land,  saying  to  com- 
ing generations  "  Drink  water  and  live,"  or  "  Drink  liquors 
and  you  will  die." 

We  recommend  that  our  women  form  an  alliance  offen- 
sive and  defensive  against  the  common  foe  of  the  home  and 
society.  Let  our  active,  intelligent  and  consecrated  women 
join  hands  with  this  noble  band  of  reformers  that  they  may 
reap  the  benefits  that  will  come  to  all  by  the  triumph  of  the 
principles  advocated  by  this  world-wide  organization. 

CHRISTIAN   CO-OPERATION. 

How  to  save  our  young  people  and  converts  to  the 
Church  and  Christianity  has  been  a  problem.  We  have  had 
many  theories  as  to  the  best  methods  of  solving  it.  The 
Methodistic  idea  has  been  to  organize  and  put  them  at  work 
and  keep  them  at  work,  indoctrinate  them  in  the  class-room 
and  Sunday-school.  This  idea  has  taken  a  general  form  of 
training  the  young  Church  or  what  is  known  as  the  "  Chris- 
tian Endeavor  Association,"  the  "  Young  Peoples'  Baptist 
Association,"  and  the  "  Epworth  League."  The  Baptist  As- 
sociation is  purely  denominational  and  semi-racial  or  Anglo- 
Saxon  ;  the  "  Epworth  League"  is  tri-denominational  und 
comprises  the  young  people  of  the  M.  E.  Church  South  and 
a  portion  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  the  Methodist  of  Canada ;  there- 
fore, only  three  denominations  control  and  manage  them.    The 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  B.  CHURCH.  61 

Christian  Endeavor  Association  is  a  federatian  of  Christian 
workers,  representing  thirty  evangelical  denominations  in  a 
world-wide  brotherhood,  recognizing  the  Fatherhood  of  God 
and  the  Brotherhood  of  Man.  They  desire  our  fellowship,  fra- 
ternity and  co-operation.  They  have  recognized  our  Church  by 
inviting  our  ministers  and  Bishops  to  preside  at  their  meet- 
ings, speak  on  their  platforms,  and  have  elected  one  of  our 
Bishops  member  of  the  Trustee  Board  of  the  United  Society 
of  Christian  Endeavor  of  the  World,  thereby  making  us  a 
part  of  the  corporate  body  and  partners  in  this  world-wide 
endeavor  to  save  men.  This  movement  is  a  practical  illus- 
tration of  the  gracious  fact  that  Christian  spiritual  unity  is 
possible  without  absolute  uniformity  or  centralization  of  au- 
thority. Spiritual  unity  cannot  be  gained  by  cold,  formality 
and  formal  fraternal  resolutions,  but  must  come  by  hand  and 
hand,  heart  and  heart  and  face  and  face  contact,  such  as  is 
given  by  the  members  of  the  "  United  Christian  Endeavor 
Association." 

CHRISTIAN  ENDEAVOR. 

The  Bishop's  Council  of  1894  recommended  the  organi- 
zation of  Christian  Endeavor  Associations  in  all  our  church- 
es. We  have  many  organizations  which  are  doing  a  good 
work  in  instructing  our  people  in  their  Christian  duties,  each 
one  taking  the  following  pledge  : 

PLEDGE. 

u  Trusting  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  for  strength,  I  prom- 
ise Him  that  I  will  strive  to  do  whatever  He  would  like  have 
me  do ;  that  I  will  make  it  the  rule  of  my  life  to  pray  and  to 
read  the  Bible  every  day,  and  to  support  my  own  church  in 
every  way,  especially  by  attending  all  her  regular  Sunday 
and  midweek  services,  unless  prevented  by  some  reason  which 
I  can  conscientiously  give  to  my  Saviour ;  and  that,  just  so  far 
as  I  know  how,  throughout  my  whole  life,  I  will  endeavor  to 
lead  a  Christian  life. 

As  an  Active  Member,  I  promise  to  be  true  to  all  my 
duties,  to  be  present  at  and  to  take  some  part,  aside  from  sing- 


62  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

ing,  in  every  Christian  Endeavor  prayer-meeting,  unless  hin- 
dered by  some  reason  which  I  can  conscientiously  give  to  my 
Lord  and  Master.  If  obliged  to  be  absent  irom  the  monthly 
consecration  meeting  of  the  Society,  I  will,  if  possible,  send 
at  least  a  verse  of  Scripture  to  be  read  in  response  to  my 
name  at  the  roll-call."  

We  commend  these  facts  to  your  deliberate  judgments. 
They  are  worthy  of  your  consideration.  We  must  do  some- 
thing for  our  young  people  ;  if  we  do  not  care  for  them  some 
one  else  will.  Therefore,  believing  that  the  time  has  come 
when  we  should  make  provision  for  the  organization  and 
training  of  the  young  people  committed  to  our  charge,  we 
trust  that  this  General  Conference  will  not  adjourn  without 
making  ample  provision  to  supply  this  pressing  demand, 
either  by  a  close  affiliation  with  the  United  Christian  Endeav- 
or Society  or  by  having  a  district  denominational  organization. 
We  are  of  the  opinion  that  by  uniting  with  the  Christian 
Endeavor  Society  that  we  can  do  more  good  than  by  a  local 
organization.  In  the  first  place,  we  become  partners  and 
owners  of  all  the  property  of  that  organization,  and  will  be 
benefited  by  the  hearty  co-operation  of  the  active,  intelligent 
and  good  men  of  thirty  denominations  throughout  the  world. 

Secondly,  we  will  have  the  benefit  of  the  cheap  and  ex- 
tensive literature. 

Thirdly,  It  will  enable  us  to  co-operate  with  our  friends 
in  obliterating  the  color  line,  strike*  a  death  blow  at  race  pre- 
judice,  and  demonstrate  our  ability  to  perform  the  higher  du- 
ties and  enjoy  the  privileges  of  a  Christian  statesman. 

IS  THE  YOUNG  MAN  SAFE  ? 

"  Is  the  young  man  safe  ?"  was  the  interrogation  of  the 
king,  warrior  and  poet  of  Israel.  The  affection  of  a  father 
for  his  son  was  greater  than  his  love  for  a  scepter  and  the 
crown.  If  the  young  men  are  saved,  there  will  be  no  trouble 
with  the  old  men  ;  for  the  habits  and  customs  of  youth  are 
hard  to  overcome  and  subdue  in  manhood  or  old  age.     There- 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.   B.   CHURCH.  63 

fore  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Church  to  assist  the  parents  in  saving 
our  young  men  from  the  effects  of  ignorance,  intemperance, 
poverty  and  crime. 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  was  organized 
in  London,  England,  June,  1844,  hy  George  Williams  a  junior 
clerk  in  a  large  dry  goods  house. 

The  first  Association  in  America  was  established  in  Mon- 
treal, Canada,  1851,  and  the  second  a  few  months  later  in 
Boston,  Mass.  This  society  has  grown  until  it  has  belted  the 
globe.  The  membership  of  the  American  Associations  is 
245,809.  One  thousand  four  hundred  and  thirty-eight  asso- 
ciations who  occupy  284  buildings  of  their  own,  valued  at 
$12,591,000,  and  of  a  total  net  property  of  $14,208,043.  Six 
hundred  and  fifty- six  libraries,  containing  470,662  volumes. 
They  employ  1,279  general  secretaries,  among  them  one  or 
two  colored  young  men.  The  current  expenses  for  one  year 
in  trying  to  save  our  young  men  was  $2,334,881.  Now,  if  it 
requires  the  expenditure  of  this  vast  sum  of  n^oney,  energy 
and  prayer  to  save  the  young  men,  who  have  had  all  the  ad- 
vantages of  hereditary  influences  and  home  culture,  what 
amount  of  work  will  be  required  of  us  to  save  our  young  men  ? 

It  is  the  duty  of  this  General  Conference,  and  we  trust 
it  will  be  its  pleasure,  to  speak  in  no  ambiguous  terms  of  the 
duties  of  the  Church  in  relation  to  our  young  men.  Make  it 
the  imperative  duty  of  every  preacher  having  charge  of  a 
circuit,  station  or  mission  to  organize  a  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association.  Make  it  the  duty  of  the  members  of  the 
Association  to  hold  prayer-meetings  from  house  to  house,  to 
visit  the  prisoner  in  his  cell  and  break  the  Bread  of  Life  to 
the  poor  and  inmates  of  our  asylums. 

Dear  Brethren,  it  is  your  duty  to  see  that  light-houses 
along  the  coast  of  life  be  erected  to  prevent  the  wreck  of  our 
young  men.  Heretofore  we  have  furnished  life-saving  vessels 
and  wrecking  crews  who  have  allowed  the  young  men  to  be 
wrecked  and  almost  destroyed  ;  then  they  have  gone  to  their 


64    '  THE  QUADRENNIAT  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

rescue  and  brought  them  safe  to  shore.  What  we  need  now 
is  more  light-houses  to  prevent  our  young  men  from  entering 
the  rapids  that  lead  to  destruction,  then  we  won't  need  so 
many  wrecking  crews  in  our  winter  revivals. 

OUR  YOUNG  WOMEN. 

What  we  have  said  about  the  "Young  Men's  Christian 
Association"  is  equally  true  about  the  Young  Women's  Chris- 
tian Association.     The  work  of  this  Association  is  four-fold: 

Physical— Systematic  training  in  the  gymnasium,  Health 
talks  and  Holiday  excursions. 

Second.  Social — Receptions  and  socials  in  homelike 
rooms,  Musical  and  literary  entertainments,  Helpful  compan- 
ionships. 

Third.  Intellectual — Libraries  and  reading  rooms,  and 
forming  educational  classes, 

Fourth.  Spiritual — Personal  work,  Evangelistic  meet- 
ings, Bible  training  classes,  Conventions  for  State  and  Na- 
tional Conferences. 

This  Society  makes  no  distinction  on  account  of  race  or 
color,  but  all  are  invited  to  participate  in  its  work. 

It  is  of  the  highest  importance  that  our  Church  should 
take  its  stand  in  the  interest  of  our  young  women — the  fu- 
ture mothers  and  teachers  of  the  race — for  what  our  women 
are  the  race  will  be. 

The  true  standard  of  a  people  is  measured  by  a  virtuous 
and  intelligent  womanhood  ;  and  the  ideal  woman  is  found 
in  the  Church,  the  Sunday-school,  the  Day  school  and  the 
Home  ;  therefore  the  Church  must  furnish  the  ideal  woman 
for  society  and  the  race. 

The  General  Conference  has  a  larger  constituency  of  no- 
ble self-sacrificing  women  than  any  other  deliberative  body  of 
Negroes  in  the  world.  More  of  them  depend  for  their  moral 
and  religious  training  upon  the  bodies  represented  in  this 
General  Conference  than  upon  any  other  bodies  represented 
by  the  race. 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.  CHURCH.  64  A 

MITE  MISSIONARY   CONVENTION. 

The  First  Connectional  Convention  of  the  Woman's 
Parent  Mite  Missionary  Society  convened  at  Bethel  church, 
Philadelphia,  November  7th,  1895,  and  continued  in  session 
until  November  11th. 

Opening  religious  exercises  were  conducted  by  Bishop 
B.  T.  Tanner,  D.  D. 

Mrs.  S.  E.  Tanner,  President  of  the  Mite  Missionary 
Society,  presided  with  grace  and  dignity.  Her  address  to  the 
Convention  was  able  and  comprehensive. 

Mrs.  Bishop  Turner,  Mrs.  Bishop  Wayman,  Mrs.  Sarah 
J.  Early,  Mrs.  G.  T.  Radcliff  and  Mrs.  Josephine  Baltimore, 
acted  as  Vice-Presidents. 

Secretaries  were :  Mrs.  S.  J.  Anderson,  Mrs.  Isabel  Tem- 
ple, Mrs.  Mary  C.  Beckett,  Mrs.  Ida  M.  Yeocom  and  Mrs.  D.  S. 
Bentley. 

Treasurer,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Campbell ;  and  Assistant  Treas- 
urer, Mrs.  Gracie  P.  Offer. 

Bishop  A.  W.  Wayman  and  Bishop  B.  W.  Arnett  were 
present  during  the  session. 

Addresses  were  delivered  by  Mrs.  S.  J.  W.  Early,  of 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  the  first  woman  of  the  Race  to 
graduate  from  Oberlin  College.  She  delivered  several  very 
able  addresses. 

Mrs.  Amanda  Smith,  the  only  woman  of  the  Race  who 
has  labored  on  four  continents  as  an  Evangelist,  charmed  and 
electrified  the  large  audience  with  the  gospel  of  peace  and 
good- will  towards  all  men. 

The  address  of  Mrs.  S.  J.  Anderson  was  a  revelation  to 
many.  Mrs.  G.  T.  Radcliff  delivered  several  stirring  addresses. 
There  were  many  of  the  active  workers  present ;  and  among 
them  were  Mrs.  Bishop  Wayman,   Mrs.  Doctor  Bentley,  and 


64B  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRBSSlOF  THE 

Mrs.  Aldridge,  Baltimore,  Jones,  Beckett,  Shaffer  and  Palmer ; 
Mrs.  Bishop  Campbell,  Mrs.  G.  P.  Offer,  President  of  the 
Mite  Missionary  Society  of  the  Third  District,  and  many 
other  persons  participated.  The  meeting  was  a  Pentecostal 
feast, — an  object  lesson  of  the  ability  of  our  women.  They 
clearly  demonstrated  the  progress  made  by  the  race. 

Bishop  Way  man  complimented  the  Convention  for  the 
order  in  despatching  the  business. 

The  proceedings  of  the  Convention  will  be  presented. to 
the  General  Conference  for  its  concurrence. 

Mrs.  Fannie  J.  Coppin,  chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
Constitution,  presented  the  following  amendments,  which 
were  unanimously  adopted  : 

AMENDMENTS    TO    THE    CONSTITUTION    OF    THE    PARENT    SOCIETY. 

Amendment  1.  There  shall  be  an  Auxiliary  Branch  So- 
ciety organized  in  every  Conference  throughout  the  Connec- 
tion, which  Conference  Branch  shall  report  Quarterly  through 
its  Corresponding  Secretary,  to  the  Parent  Society,  according 
to  the  By-Laws  for  Auxiliaries,  stating  the  number  of  its 
Auxiliaries,  the  work  accomplished  by  them,  the  moneys  re- 
ceived from  them,  and  other  matters  of  interest. 

Amendment  2.  The  President  of  each  Conference  Branch 
shall  be  Vice-President  of  the  Parent  Society  and  whenever 
possible,  shall  be  present  at  its  meetiugs. 

Amendment  3.  Each  Conference  Branch  shall  organize 
its  own  Auxiliaries  and  shall  have  charge  of  them,  requiring 
Quarterly  lieports  from  them,  according  to  the  By-Laws  for 
Auxiliaries.  Each  Conference  Branch  shall  also  have  charge 
of  its  own  home  work.  The  moneys  of  the  Society  to  be 
divided  in  the  same  proportion  as  the  Missionary  money  of 
the  Church,  viz :  Sixty  per  cent,  for  Home  Work,  and  Forty 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.   CHURCH.  64  C 

per  cent,  for  Foreign  Mission  Work.  The  forty  per  cent,  for 
Foreign  Missionary  Work  to  be  sent  to  the  Treasurer  of  the 
Woman's  Parent  Mite  Missionary  Society,  located  in  Phila- 
delphia, Pa. 

Amendment  4.  The  Parent  Society  shall  call  a  Confer- 
ence of  all  the  Auxiliary  Branch  Conference  Societies,  once 
every  four  years,  in  the  month  of  November,  preceding  the 
Quadrennial  Meeting  of  the  General  Conference  of  the  A.  M.  E. 
Church.  At  this  Conference,  reports  o±  the  W.  H.  and  F.  M. 
Societies  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church  shall  be  laid  before  the 
body,  with  suggestions  and  recommendations  as  to  its  further- 
ance and  support.  The  place  for  the  holding  of  this  meeting 
to  be  hereinafter  stated. 

RECOMMENDATION   FIRST,    OR    PETITION    FIRST. 

It  is  recommended  that  the  Parent  Society  shall  elect  a 
Secretary,  whose  business  it  shall  be  to  see  that  reports  from 
the  Conference  Branch  Societies  and  other  matters  of  interest 
relating  to  the  Women's  Missionary  Work,  shall  from  time 
to  time  be  published  in  the  columns  of  the  Christian  Recorder. 

Respectfully  Petitioned,  An  Amendment:  That  the  Quar- 
terly Report  of  the  Conference  Branches  of  the  W.  P.  M.  M. 
Society  shall  be  included  in  the  Report  of  the  Presiding  El- 
der, tor  information  and  to  perpetuate  history. 

RECOMMENDATION    SECOND,    OR    PETITION    SECOND. 

It  is  recommended  that  a  representative  from  the  W.  P. 
M.  M.  Society  shall  from  time  to  time  meet  with  the  Men's 
Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  to  the  end  that  there  may  be  a 
better  understanding  of  their  work  in  the  Foreign  field  and 
for  what  part  of  it  the  Women  are  especially  responsible.  A 
lack  of  definite  knowledge  concerning  these  facts  has  been  a 


64  D  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

great  drawback  to  the  success  of  the  Women's  P.  H.  and  F. 
M.  S.  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church." 

The  Convention  was  a  grand  success  and  will  long  be 
remembered  by  those  who  participated  in  its  proceedings,  and 
those  who  witnessed  the  exercises  and  enjoyed  the  speaking 
and  singing.  It  was  apparent  to  all  observers  that  all  our 
women  wanted  was  an  opportunity  to  exercise  their  gifts, 
graces  and  usefulness. 

We  trust  that  this  General  Conference  will  give  the  sub- 
ject due  consideration,  and  act  as  their  godly  judgment  may 
dictate. 

"  THE  VOICE  ON  MISSIONS." 

"  The  Voice  of  Missions,"  a  monthly  journal  edited  and 
published  by  Bishop  H.  M.  Turner,  is  one  of  the  literary  en- 
terprises of  our  Church,  having  for  its  great  object  the  devel- 
opment of  the  Missionary  spirit  at  home  by  the  diffusion  of 
valuable  and  reliable  information  gathered  from  the  Foreign 
field.  While  the  "  Voice  "  is  lifted  up  like  a  trumpet  in  plead- 
ing for  the  conquest  of  the  World  for  the  Redeemer,  it  at  the 
same  time  gives  no  unmistaken  sound  as  to  our  duty  in  the 
"  Redemption  of  Africa" — the  "  Dark  Continent,  " — a  subject 
apparently  so  dear  to  the  hearts  of  many. 

"EIGHT  AND  EOVE." 

"  Woman's  Light  and  Love  for  Heathen  Africa,"  published 
by  Mrs.  Lida  A.  Lowrey,  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  and  Miss  Emma  S. 
Ransom,  Cleveland,  Ohio,  commends  itself  to  the  Church. 
It  is  the  first  effort  of  the  women  to  conduct  a  Missionary 
journal.  It  has  been  an  eminent  success,  and  is  destined  to 
do  much  good  in  giving  Missionary  information  and  uniting 
.  our  women  in  their  efforts  for  the  evangelization  oi  Africa 
and  the  establishing  of  Protestantism  in  the  West  Indies. 
We  trust  this  publication  will  be  fostered  by  the  Church. 


BISHOPS  OF   THE  A.   M.   E.   CHURCH.  65 

THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY. 

We  are  Hearing  the  portals  of  the  twentieth  century. 
Four  annual  revolutions  and  the  quadrennium  of  the  wheel 
of  time  will  bring  us  into  the  presence  of  its  duties  and  re- 
sponsibilities ;  each  to  take  his  place  in  the  new  century  ac- 
cording to  his  merits  in  the  work  in  the  nineteenth  century. 
Individuals  and  organizations  will  make  their  historical  re- 
ports. 

What  a  grand  report  will  the  sons  and  daughters  of  Al- 
len and  Brown,  Quinn  and  Payne,  Campbell  and  Wayman, 
Shorter  and  Ward,  Carr  and  Gross  make  to  the  Keeper  of  the 
Record  of  the  new-born  Century !     They  will  say  : 

"  What  troubles  have  we  seen, 

What  conflicts  have  we  passed  ; 

Fightings  without  and  fears  within, 

Since  we  assembled  last ! 

But  out  of  all  the  Lord 

Has  brought  us  by  His  love  !  " 

We  will  be  called  upon  as  an  organization  to  join  with 
the  heirs  of  our  Christian  civilization  in  celebrating  the  nine- 
teen hundredth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  the  King's  Son, 
the  Prince  of  Life  and  Glory  ;  He  who  was  to  reign  from  sea  to 
sea  and  who  was  to  inherit  a  crown  and  sceptre  of  the  uni- 
versal empire  of  leligion,  morality  and  knowledge. 

FALSE  ACCUSATION. 

There  have  been  serious  charges  brought  against  our  race 
by  men  who  profess  to  be  our  friends  ;  others  have  been 
brought  by  men  who  make  no  pretensions  to  a  friendship  for 
either  religion  or  the  Negro.  He  has.  been  charged  with  ig- 
norance, immorality,  indifference  and  disregard  to  the  mar- 
riage vow,  and  professing  a  religion  without  morality.  And 
some  have  gone  so  far  as  to  say  that  he  is  worse  oft*  today 
than  he  was  in  slavery  ;  that  freedom  has  been  a  curse  instead 
of  a  blessing,  and  liberty  has  become  lawlessness.  The  moral 
and  religious  teachers  of  the  people  have  been  charged  with 


66  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

a  lack  of  the  true  conception  of  human  duty  and  responsi- 
bility. These  are  serious  charges ;  but  as  representatives  of 
the  people  in  all  conditions  of  life,  we  deny  the  false  and 
slanderous  accusation  against  the  virtue  of  our  women  and 
the  manhood  of  our  men  and  speak  from  personal  knowledge 
of  the  moral  and  social  condition  of  the  people,  and  affirm 
that  the  ideals  of  the  leaders  of  the  people  are  as  high  as  the 
ideal  life  of  their  neighbors,  and  that  their  practical  life  is 
more  in  harmony  with  the  Ten  Commandments,  the  Golden 
Rule  and  the  life  of  the  Man  of  Sorrows  and  the  humble 
Nazarene,  than  those  who  are  bearing  false  witness  against 
their  neighbor  without  any  personal  knowledge  of  the  charges 
alleged. 

DIVORCES. 

You  will  be  called  upon  during  your  deliberations  to  give 
utterance  to  the  position  of  the  Church  on  the  subject  of 
Marriage  and  Divorce.  It  is  our  deliberate  judgment  that 
we  should  take  a  firm  stand  on  this  subject.  Stand  where 
the  Church  has  stood  during  her  existence  ;  stand  where  our 
fathers  stood  on  the  subject,  and  abide  by  the  consequences. 
Let  us  by  our  action  here  strengthen  the  foundations  of  the 
hymeneal  altar,  binding  husbands  and  wives  with  bonds  so 
pure  and  strong  that  they  can  only  be  broken  by  death  ;  they 
can  be  separated  but  not  parted,  but  be  one  in  responsibility 
and  one  in  destiny. 

THE  HYMNAL. 

A  Methodist  preacher  is  expected  to  be  able  to  pray, 
preach  and  sing.  One  of  the  peculiarities  of  the  Methodist 
Church  has  been  utilization  of  song  in  the  work  of  saving 
souls.  "  Sing  in  the  spirit  and  with  an  understanding,"  has 
been  the  counsel,  advice  and  command  from  the  days  of  Wes- 
ley until  now. 

The  preface  to  our  first  Hymn  Book  in  1817,  printed  by 
Bishop  Allen  and  Jacob  Tapsico,  has  the  following : 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.   M.   E.   CHURCH.  67 

"  Having  become  a  distinct  and  separate  body  of  people, 
there  is  no  collection  of  Hymns  we  could  with  propriety 
adopt :  however,  we  have  for  some  time  been  collecting  ma- 
terials for  the  present  work.  *         *         *         *         * 

In  our  researches  we  have  not  passed  over  a  selection  of 
hymns  because  esteemed  and  used  by  a  particular  denomina- 
tion, but  have  endeavored  to  collect  such  as  were  applicable 
to  the  various  states  of  Christian  experience.         *'        * 

We  exhort  you  to  retain  the  spirit  of  singing,  always 
recollecting  that  it  is  a  part  of  Divine  worship,  when  the 
spirit  and  the  understanding  are  united.  It  is  believed  to  be 
a  service  acceptable  in  the  sight  of  God  and  beneficial  to  the 
souls  of  the  people." 

These  are  the  words  of  the  committee. 

Daniel  Coker, 
Richard  Allen, 
James  Champion. 
We  have  had  several  editions  of  our  Hymn  Book  print- 
ed.    In  1891  the  Bishops'  Council  which  met  at  Macon,  Ga., 
appointed  Bishops  T.  M.  D.  Ward  and  B.  T.  Tanner  a  com- 
mittee on  "  Hymn  Book  and  Hymnal."     They  authorized  Dr. 
J.  C.  Embry  to  compile  a  Hymn  Book,   which  he   has  done, 
and  it  is  used  throughout  the  Church. 

The  Bishops'  Council  of  1893  added  Dr.  J.  C.  Embry 
and  Prof.  Jno.  T.  Layton  to  the  committee  on  Hymnal  and 
authorized  them  to  make  a  compilation  of  Hymns  and  Tunes 
and  report  the  same  to  the  Council. 

.  In  1895  Bishop  B.  T.  Tanner  reported  progress.  Bishop 
Ward  having  died,  Bishops  Gaines  and  Arnett  were  added  to 
the  committee  and  empowered  to  continue  and  report  their 
work  to  the  Bishops  in  time  to  present  their  work  to  the  Gen- 
eral Conference.  For  we  feel  that  the  adoption  of,  the  Hymns 
of  the  Church  is  just  as  much  the  work  of  the  General  Con- 
ference as  the  making  of  the  laws  to  govern  the  Church. 
We  hope  your  Committee  on  Hymnal  will  act  so  wise  that 
the  Church  will  not  need  another  Hymnal  for  half  a  century. 


68  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

Our  hymns  should  be  as  permanent  as  our  doctrines,  and 
should  pass  from  one  generation  to  another,  and  our  tunes 
should  bind  and  cheer  the  hearth  and  home,  the  living  and 
dying  for  an  hundred  generations. 

We  call  your  attention  to  the  report  of  the  Committee 
on  Hymnal  and  Hymn  Book. 

PARLIAMENT  OF  RELIGIONS. 

According  to  the  resolution  of  Dr.  J.  T.  Jenifer  at  Gen- 
eral Conference,  passed  in  1892,  authorizing  the  Bishops  to 
make  such  arrangements  as  were  necessary  to  have  the 
Church  represented  in  the  Parliament  of  Religions  and  by 
holding  a  Denominational  Congress,  Bishops  B.  F.  Lee,  Jas. 
A.  Handy  and  Rev.  T.  B.  Caldwell  were  appointed  General 
Committee  to  carry  out  resolution.  Bishop  B.  W.  Arnett 
was  appointed  General  Manager  and  Chairman  of  Committee 
on  Programmes.  Arrangements  were  made  and  our  Church 
was  represented  in  all  the  Religious  Congresses  and  Parlia- 
ment. Mrs.  S.  J.  W.  Early  and  Miss  Hallie  Q.  Brown  were  our 
representatives  in  the  Woman's  Worlds'  Congress;  in  the 
Congress  of  African  Ethnology  Bishop  H.  M.  Turner  and  Dr. 
J.  T.  Jenifer  delivered  addresses  and  Bishop  B.  W.  Arnett 
presided,  while  Papers  were  read  by  Profs.  W.  S.  Scarborough, 
Dr.  H.  O.  Tanner  and  Bishop  B.  T.  Tanner. 

Bishop  W.  J.  Gaines  and  I.  W.  L.  Roundtree  represented 
us  in  the  World's  Temperance  Congress.  At  the  World's 
Educational  Congress  we  were  represented  by  President  S.  T. 
Mitchell,  Pres.  H.  IVKealing,  St.  George  P.  Richardson,  Miss 
Annie  Jones  and  others. 

At  the  Congress  of  Missions  we  were  represented  by  Dr. 
W.  B.  Derrick,  R.  A.  Graham,  G.  W.  Gaines  and  others. 

The  Congress  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church  was  attended  by 
all  the  Bishops  and  General  officers,  Presiding  elders  and  lay- 
men from  all  sections  of  the  Church.  The  addresses  deliver- 
ed and  speeches  made  have  been  compiled  and  are  now  in  the 
hands  of  the  General  Business  Menager  for  publication.     We 


*hI                    l^V 

■     •  "         ■•  .  '  ■    ■■.'..  .... 

Bui 

R3| 

4     -.';■     . 

BISHOP  ABRAM  GRANT,  D.   D. 

Born  at  Lake  City,  Florida,  1848. 
Ordained  Bishop,  May  24th,  1888. 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.   E.   CHURCH.  69 

hope  that  this  General  Conference  will  make  ample  provision 
to  give  this  valuable  literature  to  the  world.  Other  Con- 
gresses have  published  their  proceedings  and  are  looking  for 
ours.     May  they  never  be  disappointed  ! 

The  Missionary  Congress  of  the  A.  M.  E,  Church  was 
held  Sept.  23rd,  1893.  Bishop  Turner  presided.  Addresses 
were  delivered  by  Bishops  Waynian,  Tanner,  Handy,  Grant 
and  Drs.  Johnson,  Coppin,  Smith  and  others.  Drs.  Beckett, 
Watson  and  Professor  Layton  charmed  the  world  with  their 
Songs  of  Praise. 

One  of  the  special  features  of  the  Missionary  Meeting 
was  the  address  delivered  by  Mrs.  L.  M.  Montefor,  a  lady 
who  was  born  in  Jerusalem.  The  venerable,  now  sainted, 
Bishop  D.  A.  Payne  was  present  at  all  our  Missionary  Meet- 
ings. 

At  the  opening  of  the  Parliament  of  Religions  Bishop  B. 
W.  Arnett  delivered  one  of  the  Welcome  Addresses  on  Sept. 
11th  and  presided  over  the  Parliament  of  Religion,  Septem- 
ber 15th. 

The  celebration  of  the  issuing  of  the  Emancipation  Proc- 
lamation by  Lincoln  was  under  the  control  of  the  A.  M.  E. 
Church.  Addresses  were  delivered;  a  Souvenir  volume  was 
presented  to  the  Hon.  J.  M.  Ashley,  in  the  name  of  the  Afro- 
American  League  of  Tennessee  ;  Master  Daniel  Payne  Ar- 
nett represented  W.  H.  Young  and  presented  the  volume  in 
the  name  of  the  coming  generation,  to  which  Mr.  Ashley 
responded. 

Addresses  were  delivered  by  Rev.  J.  R.  Slatterly,  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  and  by  Bishop  B.  W.  Arnett.  The  venera- 
ble Bishop  Payne  presided  at  this  meeting. 

The  Church  owes  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  Hon.  C.  C.  Bon- 
ney,  chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Religious  Auxiliaries, 
and  Rev.  J.  H.  Barrows,  chairman  of  the  Parliament  of  Re- 
ligions, for  the  impartiality  shown  and  the  cordiality  exhibited 
to  our  Church  and  its  representatives.  In  the  official  volume 
of  the  proceedings  of  the   Parliament  of  Religion,  they  did 


70  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

for  us  what  they  did  not  for  any  other  denomination  :  they  put 
in  the  photographs  of  our  twelve  Bishops.  This  gives  us  a 
place  in  the  history  of  the  religious  world  that  no  other  de- 
nomination enjoys.  We  think  that  much  good  was  done  for 
the  race  at  the  Parliament  of  Religions.  Many  of  the  foreign 
representatives  met  for  the  first  time  represer  tative  men  and 
women  of  the  race.  We  gave  each  of  the  foreign  represent- 
atives a  copy  of  our  Discipline,  Hymn  Book,  Bishop  Gaines' 
History  of  the  South,  Dr.  Embry's  Digest,  the  Quarto-Cen- 
tennial of  the  South  Carolina  Conterence  and  the  Budget  of 
1888. 

Never  in  all  the  history  of  the  Church  did  it  do  a  great- 
er service  to  the  race  than  by  its  participation  in  the  Religious 
Congress  and  Parliament  of  Religion. 

PEDOLOGY. 

Richard  Allen  was  the  first  Race  Leader  to  organize  the 
Sunday  School  for  the  children.  The  first  school  was  taught 
in  Philadelphia  by  Thomas  Miller,  in  the  A.  M.  E.  church, 
March,  1795.  The  work  of  child-training  has  continued  and 
increased  in  importance  ever  since. 

The  Sunday  Schools  of  our  Church  are  in  a  very  prosper- 
ous condition.  The  uniform  Lesson  System  has  been  almost 
unanimously  adopted.  The  preparation  of  our  Lessons  is 
the  work  of  the  Faculty  of  Payne  Theological  Seminary. 
The  Secretary  of  the  Sunday  School  Union  has  very  wisely 
united  these  two  departments  of  Church  work.  We  trust 
that  the  bonds  that  bind  them  now  may  be  strengthened,  and 
the  union  made  permanent. 

We  congratulate  you  upon  the  evidences  of  progress  as 
seen  in  our  Sunday  School  Teachers.  The  Minutes  of  the 
Sunday  School  Institutes  will  show  their  ability.  The  Papers 
read,   and  discussions  upon  the  same   are  very  commendable. 

Many  of  our  Schools  have  adopted  the  graded  system, 
and  graduate  the  students  when  they  complete  a  Course  of 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.   CHURCH.  71 

Bible  Studies  and  Normal  Training.  This  is  known  as  the 
"  Cincinnati  Plan;"  they  having  been  among  the  very  first 
to  graduate  a  class.  This  is  one  of  the  solutions  of  what  we 
will  do  with  our  young  people  in  the  Sunday  School, — put 
them  on  a  course  of  systematic  study  and  hold  before  them 
the  incentive  of  graduation. 

We  call  your  attention  to  the  meeting  of  the  Internation- 
al Sunday  School  Convention  to  be  held  in  Boston,  in  July, 
1896,  and  also  to  the  World's  Sunday  School  Convention  to 
be  held  in  London,  England,  July,  1897.  We  trust  you  will 
make  ample  preparation  to  be  represented  by  some  of  our 
most  intelligent  young  men  and  young  women.  We  should 
not  allow  any  of  these  organizations  to  meet  without  being 
fully  represented. 

MEMBERSHIP. 

We  are  pleased  to  note  the  improvement  of  the  member- 
ship of  our  denomination  and  the  adherents  to  our  Church. 
The  uniform  testimony  of  Presiding  Elders  and  Pastors  is  that 
there  is  a  marked  change  for  the  better  in  the  home,  social, 
and  church  life  of  those  committed  to  our  charge.  The  social 
standard  is  higher  than  ever  before  ;  the  line  between  the 
good,  bad  and  indifferent  is  more  sharply  defined  than  at  any 
time  in  the  history  of  the  race.  Public  sentiment  is  becoming 
more  severe  on  evil-doers,  and  crime  ceases  to  be  condoned. 
Everywhere  the  people  are  following  closer  in  the  footsteps 
of  the  "  ISTazarene, "  and  obeying  the  advice  and  command 
of  the  "  Carpenter's  Son. " 

The  increase  of  our  membership  from  June,  1894,  to 
June,  1895,  was  44,400. 

The  intelligence  of  our  members  is  demonstrated  by  their 
avocations  and  professions.  They  occupy  every  position  in 
society ;  they  are  filling  with  credit  places  of  trust  and  emol- 
ument in  the  Municipal,  County,  State  and  National  govern- 
ment, and  are  serving  their  race  and  country  at  home  and 
abroad. 


72  ,  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

We  have  at  least  599,450  communicants  and  1,798,350 
adherents. 

PASTORS. 

The  Ministers  of  our  Church  have  never  labored  harder 
than  they  have  during  this  Quadrennium,  and  they  have 
never  done  more  good  to  our  race  and  country.  They  have 
given  inspiration  and  hope  to  the  fainting  and  despondent ; 
they  have  opened  the  prison  doors  of  despair  and  emancipa- 
ted the  children  of  sorrow.  They  have  bound  up  the  broken- 
hearted, united  separated  families,  opened  a  highway  from 
the  home  to  the  church  and  school-house,  given  strength  and 
courage  to  the  weary  pilgrims,  announced  the  fiery  judgment 
to  the  wicked  and  presented  the  Balm  of  Gilead  to  the  sin- 
sick  and  repentant,  wiped  the  crystal  drops  of  dissolution 
from  the  brow  of  the  dying,  and  pointed  men  and  women  to 
"the  Lamb  of  God  that  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world." 
They  have  been  true  to  the  trust  imposed  upon  them ;  have 
preached  the  word  without  favor  or  affection,  and  have  been 
recognized  by  the  wise,  intelligent  and  good  as  the  true  min- 
isters and  interpreters  of  Nature,  the  Word,  Providence  and 
Revelation.  "  Pure  and  undefiled  religion,"  Christian  educa- 
tion, Christian  morality,  Christian  temperance  and  Christian 
missions  have  been  their  theme,  their  song  and  their  prayer  ; 
like  angels  in  the  vision  of  the  Revelator,  they  have  gone 
from  city  to  city,  village  to  village  as  missionaries  and  heralds 
of  peace  and  goodness ;  and  above  all  they  have  been  supreme- 
ly loyal  to  Truth,  the  Church  and  their  God. 

PRESIDING  ELDERS. 

We  desire  to  express  our  high  appreciation  of  the  work 
of  the  Presiding  Elders  of  the  several  Districts.  It  is  hard 
to  estimate  the  great  services  they  have  performed  for  the 
Church,  and  it  is  only  God  who  can  tell  what  they  have  suf- 
fered while  attending  the  various  missions,  circuits  and  sta- 
tions of  the  various  districts.  Cold,  hunger,  rain  and  sun- 
shine have  been  their  constant  companions.     There  are  184 


BISHOPS  OP  THE  A.  M.  B.  CHURCH.  73 

Presiding  Elder  Districts  in  the  Connection.  They  held  184 
District  Conferences  this  year,  or  536  during  the  past  Quad- 
rennium.  They  have  held  530  Sunday  School  Conventions 
and  Institutes ;  4,325  Quarterly  Conferences  every  three 
months,  or  17,300  every  year,  or  69,200  for  the  Quadrennium. 
They  have  held  a  total  number  of  Conferences  and  Conven- 
tions since  your  last  meeting  amounting  to  71,266.  And  yet 
there  are  some  who  will  say  there  is  no  work  for  the  Presi- 
ding Elder  to  do.  But  with  an  open  Bible,  a  loving  and 
consecrated  ministry,  a  wise,  active  and  judicious  Presiding 
Eldership  we  can  take  the  world  for  Christ.  We  recommend 
that  hereafter  it  be  understood  that  Presiding  Elders  are  ap- 
pointed annually  as  the  Pastors  are  appointed,  and  may  be 
changed  at  the  end  of  the  year  as  Pastors  are  changed  ;  and 
at  the  end  of  four  (4)  years  they  shall  return  to  their  Pastor- 
ate, except  in  special  cases  to  be  determined  by  the  Bishop 
and  needs  of  the  work. 

EPISCOPAL  DISTRICTS. 

In  reviewing  the  work  committed  to  our  care,  we  now 
call  your  attention  to  the  work  of  the  Episcopal  Districts : 

Bishop  B.  T.  Tanner  was  assigned  to  the  work  ot  the 
First  Episcopal  District,  May,  1892,  which  is  composed  of 
Philadelphia,  New  Jersey,  New  England  and  New  York  Con- 
ferences. He  has  been  enabled,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  to 
meet  all  of  his  Conferences  and  visit  many  places  in  his  Dis- 
trict. The  work  has  prospered  financially  and  spiritually. 
There  has  been  an  increase  in  all  the  collections,  local  and 
general,  and  he  reports  that  his  men  have  been  generally 
faithful  and  successful,  and  deserve  well  of  the  Church. 

The  Bishop  of  the  First  Episcopal  District  is  President 
of  the  Board  of  Publication.  During  this  Quadrennium  a 
new  building  has  been  erected,  new  presses  put  in,  and  the 
whole  furnished  and  arranged.according  to  the  most  approved 
methods  for  practical  business.  Three  of  the  General  De- 
partments find  their  homes  in  that  building. 


74  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

We  congratulate  you  and  the  Church  upon  this  substan- 
tial improvement. 

Bishop  W.  J.  Gaines  was  assigned  to  the  Second  Epis- 
copal District,  1892,  composed  of  the  Virginia,  Baltimore  and 
North  Carolina  Conferences,  but  by  order  of  the  General  Con- 
ference he  organized  Western  North  Carolina  Conference  in 
1892.  The  work  has  prospered  as  never  before.  The  men 
have  been  diligent,  faithful  and  successful.  The  Bishop  has 
impressed  his  personality  upon  minister,  member  and  friend, 
"  from  the  mountain  to  the  sea ; "  he  reports  great  success 
at  Kittrell  Institute  and  commends  the  claims  of  that  Insti- 
tute to  the  favorable  consideration  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence. On  the  death  of  Bishop  J.  M.  Brown,  March  16,  1893, 
Bishop  Gaines  was  given  the  Kentucky  and  W.  Kentucky 
Annual  Conferences  until  the  setting  of  this  General  Confer- 
ence. He  reports  the  work  as  succeeding  and  the  men  as 
having  been  faithful  and  true  to  their  vows  to  God  and  man. 
The  School  at  Harrodsburg  has  had  the  support  of  the  two 
Kentucky  Conferences.  Many  churches  have  been  remodeled, 
repaired,  rebuilt  and  refurnished.  Many  debts  have  been  re- 
duced and  some  have  been  paid  off*;  and  many  souls  have 
been  added  to  the  Church. 

The  illustrious  and  venerable  D.  A.  Payne  was  assigned 
to  the  Third  Episcopal  District,  composed  of  Ohio,  N.  Ohio 
and  Pittsburgh  Annual  Conferences.  He  completed  the 
rounds  of  1892  and  1893,  and  was  assisted  by  one  of  his  col- 
leagues. At  the  close  of  the  second  round,  he  was  making 
preparation  to  go  to  Florida  and  spend  the  winter,  as  was  his 
custom.  He  went  to  Xenia  and  caught  a  cold,  and  in  a  few 
days  after,  he  completed  his  earthly  pilgrimage  and  departed 
for  his  Heavenly  home,  November  29th,  1893,  at  5  minutes 
past  2  p.  m.  He  died  "  full  of  years, "  honored  and  beloved 
wherever  known,  and  will  be  known  to  posterity  as  the 
pioneer  educator  of  his  race  and  an  apostle  of  domestic 
education. 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  B.  CHURCH.  75 

One  of  the  peculiarities  of  the  Third  Episcopal  District 
is  that  it  is  the  seat  of  one  of  our  oldest  institutions  of  learn- 
ing— Wilberforce  University — and  also  Payne  Theological 
Seminary. 

These  Institutions  require  a  portion  of  the  time  of  the 
Presiding  Bishop.  From  their  foundation,  they  have  had  the 
watchful  care  of  Bishop  Payne  and  Bishop  Shorter,  who 
acted  as  fathers  and  god-fathers. 

The  ministerial  appointments  in  the  Ohio  and  North  Ohio 
Conferences  are  made  so  as  to  accommodate  the  largest  num- 
ber of  Theological  students.  The  following  figures  will  give 
you  some  idea  of  the  progress  and  development  of  Wilber- 
force University  and  Payne  Theological  Seminary. 

Bishop  Payne  was  President  from  1863  to  1876,  a  period 
of  13  years.  The  enrollment  of  students  was  1,554,  an  aver- 
age of  119.54.  Total  money  raised  $92,784.92,  an  average  per 
year  of  $7,137.30. 

Bishop  B.  F.  Lee  was  President  from  1876  to  1884,  a  pe- 
riod of  8  years.  Total  enrollment  1,176  ;  average  enrollment 
147  per  annum.  Total  receipts  $79,202.80  ;  average  per  an- 
num $9,990.35. 

Rev.  S.  T.  Mitchell  was  President  from  1884  to  1895,  a 
period  of  11  years.  Total  enrollment  2,037;  average  144J 
per  annum.  Total  receipts  from  1884  to  1895,  $192,122.56; 
average  of  $17,466.04. 

Grand  total  receipts  from  1863  to  1895,  $364,114.22 ;  aver- 
age for  32  years  of  $11,378.56. 

Total  receipts  from  the  Normal  and  Industrial  Depart- 
ments from  1887  to  1895  was  $92,509.47. 

Total  receipts  for  Payne  Theological  Seminary  from  1891 
to  April  1st,  1896,  $17,054.82. 


76  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

RECAPITULATION. 

Grand  Total,  Wilberforce  University,  -  $364,114  22 
"  "       Normal  Department,     -     -     96,009  47 

"  "       Payne  Theo.  Seminary,     -     17,054  82 


Great  Grand  Total, $477,178  51 

Bishop  A.  W.  Wayman  was  appointed  to  the  Fourth 
Episcopal  District,  May,  1892,  composed  of  Indiana,  Illinois 
and  Iowa  Conferences.  As  was  his  custom,  he  visited  mis- 
sions, circuits  and  stations  throughout  his  district,  encouraging 
the  people,  calling  sinners  to  repentance  and  building  up 
believers  in  the  faith.  He  was  permitted  by  a  kind  Provi- 
dence to  hold  all  of  his  Annual  Conferences  and  prepare  his 
work  for  the  General  Conference.  He  attended  the  Mite 
Missionary  Society  in  Philadelphia,  November  7th  to  11th, 
then  went  into  Winter  quarters  to  await  special  orders.  Chi 
November  30th,  1895,  at  9  a.  m<?  he  received  special  orders  to 
report  at  Headquarters.  "  And  he  was  not,  for  God  took 
him."  And  the  intelligence  was  borne  on  the  wings  of  the 
wind  from  sea  to  sea  that  Bishop  Wayman  was  dead. 

Bishop  J.  A.  Handy  was  assigned  to  the  Fifth  Episcopal 
District,  composed  of  the  Missouri,  N.  Missouri,  Kansas  and 
Colorado  Conferences,  which  covered  the  States  of  Missouri, 
Kansas,  Nebraska,  Colorado,  Montana,  Utah,  Idaho  and  the 
Territory  of  New  Mexico;  a  vast  field,  sparsely  settled,  but 
abundant  in  material  wealth  and  future  possibilities.  The 
work  in  the  District  is  better  to-day  than  it  was  at  the  last 
General  Conference.  One  of  the  principal  difficulties  sur- 
rounding the  District  was  the  very  heavy  debts  that  were 
on  a  large  number  of  the  leading  churches  in  each  of  the 
Annual  Conferences;  but  by  the  almost  super-human  efforts 
of  the  ministry  and  people  the  churches  have  been  relieved 
in  a  great  measure  and  have  a  possibility  of  becoming  eman- 
cipated in  the  near  future. 

The  ministers  and  laymen  of  the  district  have  nobly  stood 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  B.  CHURCH.  77 

by  the  Western  University.  One  portion  of  the  building  has 
been  completed  and  is  occupied  by  a  School ;  the  debt  has 
been  reduced  and  is  now  under  the  control  of  the  very  able 
and  efficient  Board  of  Trustees.  You  will  be  called  upon  to 
assist  this  very  worthy  Institution.  The  moral  and  intellec- 
tual status  of  the  people  of  the  district  has  improved  under 
the  fostering  superintendency  of  the  Bishop  and  the  loyal 
support  of  ministers  and  members. 

Bishop  A.  Grant  was  assigned  to  the  Sixth  Episcopal 
District.  It  is  composed  of  the  Georgia,  E".  Georgia,  Macon, 
Ga.,  Alabama  and  the  N.  Alabama  Conferences;  and  by  the 
authority  of  the  General  Conference  of  1892,  he  organized 
the  Central  Alabama  Conference.  The  Lord  has  wonderfully 
blessed  the  labor  of  His  servant ;  churches  have  been  built, 
sinners  convicted,  mourners  converted  and  saints  confirmed 
in  the  faith.  The  ministers  have  increased  their  diligence, 
renewed  their  vows,  redeemed  their  pledges,  and  with  an  un- 
precedented devotion  to  their  sacred  trust  have  excelled  all 
former  ;years  in  bringing  a  bountiful  harvest  of  success  to  this 
General  Conference.  And  when  you  hear  the  detailed  ac- 
count of  the  wonderful  work  in  this  District,  you  will  say  that 
"  Marching  has  been  done"  by  the  Georgia  Regulars  and  the 
Alabama  Invincibles.  Not  only  has  Bishop  Grant  brought 
the  work  you  gave  him  with  an  increase  from  30  to  60  and 
100  fold,  but  he  has  brought  other  work  committed  to  his 
care  stamped  with  the  same  success  as  that  of  his  own.  Min- 
isters and  members  of  both  Districts  deserve  the  thanks  of 
this  General  Conference.  Morris  Brown  College  has  been 
cared  for;  Edward  Waters  College  has  received  aid  and  com- 
fort and  stands  out  as  one  of  our  intellectual  beacon-lights. 

The  ministers  and  laymen  of  the  Sixth  District  were  so 
well  pleased  with  the  labors  of  their  Bishop  that  they  grant- 
ed him  a  vacation  and  furnished  him  with  the  means  to  visit 
the  Old  World,  to  stand  by  the  cradle  of  Methodism,  to  preach 
in  Wesley's  pulpit  and  to  visit  the  graves  of  the  pioneers  of 
Christianity  in  earnest. 


78  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

The  Payne  High  School  at  Selma,  Alabama,  has  contin- 
ued its  career  of  usefulness ;  is  doing  much  good  in  Central 
Alabama,  and  deserves  encouragement  and  support. 

Bishop  M.  B.  Salters  was  appointed  to  the  Seventh  Epis- 
copal District,  composed  of  South  Carolina  and  Columbia,  S. 
C,  Annual  Conferences ;  but  by  the  authority  of  the  General 
Conference  of  1892,  he  organized  the  ET.  E.  South  Carolina 
Conference,  and  added  a  new  star  in  our  denominational  firm- 
ament. He  has  brought  new  life  out  of  the  work  by  his  vis- 
itation to  remote  parts  of  the  District,  where  no  Bishop  had 
ever  been  to  impress  himself  upon  the  life  and  character  of 
our  members  and  adherents.  This  District  was  visited  by  a 
severe  earthquake,  August,  1892,  and  many  thousands  of  our 
members  lost  their  property  and  many  their  lives,  and  our 
churches  swept  away  by  a  flood  or  crumbled  beneath  the 
earthquake's  trend.  But  out  of  flood  and  earthquake  success 
has  attended  the  administration  of  the  newly -made  Bishop  of 
the  Palmetto  State. 

Allen  University  passed  through  a  fiery  ordeal.  Dicker- 
son  Hall  and  the  chapel  were  burned  to  ashes  and  the  students 
and  teachers  were  thrown  out  to  contend  with  the  difficulties 
of  the  homeless  and  houseless.  Some  lost  books  and  clothes, 
but  under  the  wise  leadership  of  the  Bishop,  order  was  brought 
out  of  confusion,  and  Arnett  Hall  was  occupied  and  partially 
finished  and  furnished  and  forms  a  permanent  home  for  the 
students  of  the  Institution.  You  will  be  called  upon  to  lend 
your  aid  to  this  meritorious  and  deserving  child  of  the  Church. 

Bishop  Thomas  Myers  Decatur  "Ward  was  appointed 
to  the  Eighth  Episcopal  District,  composed  of  Florida, 
East  Florida,  South  Florida  and  the  Bahama  Islands.  He 
moved  on  his  work  and  gave  immediate  supervision  to  it  and 
impressed  himself  upon  the  Church  and  the  community  as 
only  he  could  do.  His  imperial  will  and  poetic  genius  found 
a  hearty  response  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  who  were  sur- 
rounded by  the  orange,  magnolia  and  jesamine.     Every  min- 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.  CHURCH.  79 

ister  felt  that  he  had  a  leader;  every  Church  acknowledged 
him  as  their  commander;  every  man  and  woman  felt  that  he 
was  their  brother;  the  children  looked  to  him  as  their  father, 
and  the  citizens  saw  in  him  the  embodiment  of  true  citizen- 
ship, a  worthy  exponent  of  manhood  Christianity. 

He  visited  many  places  in  his  work,  commanded  the  peo- 
ple to  repent,  pray  and  believe.  He  visited  one  of  the  Dis- 
trict Conferences  ;  returned  home  and  felt  unwell  during  Sun- 
day, went  to  bed,  bade  his  family  "  Good  night,"  closed  his 
door  after  him  and  was  seen  no  more;  for  on  the  night  of 
June  10th,  1894,  God  sent  His  chariot  for  him,  and  he  was 
not.  No  one  knows  the  hour  of  his  departure.  Like  Dr. 
Coke  he  left  the  world  unseen,  save  by  the  angels  who  guard- 
ed him  for  threescore  years  and  ten. 

Bishop  A.  Grant,  who  assisted  him,  was  given  charge  of 
the  work  by  the  Council  of  Bishops,  and  he  will  report  the 
same  in  detail. 

Bishop  Benjamin  W.  Arnett  was  given  charge  of  the 
Ninth  Episcopal  District,  composed  of  Arkansas,  S.  Ar- 
kansas, W.  Arkansas,  Indian  Territory,  Mississippi  and  N. 
Mississippi  Annual  Conferences  ;  and  by  the  authority  of  the 
General  Conference  organized  the  Middle  Mississippi  Confer- 
ence at  Yazoo  City,  Mississippi,  Feb.  1st,  1893. 

He  held  his  first  Conference  at  Guthrie,  Oklahoma,  and 
continued  to  superintend  the  work  until  December,  1893.  On 
the  death  of  Bishop  D.  A.  Payne  he  was  transferred  to  the 
Third  Episcopal  District,  and  the  Ninth  was  given  to  Bishop 
II.  M.  Turner. 

The  work  in  the  District  has  prospered.  Many  churches 
have  been  renovated  and  rebuilt.  The  cause  of  education 
has  received  new  impetus.  Bethel  University  was  changed 
to  Shorter  University,  and  the  educational  work  in  the  State 
of  Arkansas  is  in  better  condition  than  it  has  ever  been  be- 
fore. 


SO  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

The  J.  P.  Campbell  College  at  Vicksburg,  Mississippi,  is 
one  of  the  promising  Institutions  of  our  Church,  and  by  wise 
management  will  exercise  a  great  influence  over  the  people 
in  the  Mississippi  Delta. 

The  T.  W.  Stringer  Academy  at  Friars'  Point,  Mississip- 
pi, was  the  partial  gift  of  the  local  trustees  and  a  memorial 
offering  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Masons  of  the  State  of  Mis- 
sissippi. You  will  be  given  a  complete  report  of  this  import- 
ant gift  to  our  denomination. 

The  Indian  Territory  has  established  and  is  maintaining 
the  Sisson  Industrial  and  Agricultural  School.  The  Indus- 
trial branch  is  taught  at  Muscogee,  Indian  Territory.  The 
Agricultural  Farm  is  on  Bluecreek,  Indian  Territory.  This 
school  is  of  great  importance  to  the  children  of  the  new-born 
freedmen ;  they  do  not  get  any  benefits  of  the  Indian  Funds ; 
they  suffer  greatly  for  proper  facilities  of  education.  We 
trust  that  something  will  be  done  to  assist  this  school  and 
perpetuate  the  name  of  one  of  our  illustrious  missionaries. 

Bishop  B.  F.  Lee  was  appointed  to  the  Tenth  Episcopal 
District,  composed  of  the  Texas,  W.  Texas,  N.  E.  Texas,  Cen- 
tral Texas,  Louisiana,  N.  Louisiana,  California  and  Puget 
Sound  Annual  Conferences.  These  Conferences  cover  the 
States  of  Louisiana,  Texas,  California,  Washington  and  Ore- 
gon and  a  portion  of  British  North  America.  This  District 
embraces  more  territory  than  the  Kingdom  of  Solomon,  and 
God  has  given  the  Bishop  health  and  strength  to  visit'  his 
work  during  this  Quadrennium.  By  his  instructive  lectures 
and  Gospel  preaching  he  has  aroused  the  people  to  take  a 
deeper  interest  in  the  cause  of  education  and  temperance, 
and  has  induced  many  to  join  the  army  of  right  against  wrong. 
His  Presiding  Elders  have  been  to  him  what  Aaron  and  Ilur 
were  to  Moses  :  they  held  up  his  hands  while  executing  the 
Law,  while  the  Pastors  have  walked  with  him  up  the  mount 
of  Transfiguration,  where  the  Law,  Gospel  and  Prophet  met 
together,   and  the  voice  from   the   cloud  of  history  has  been 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.   CHURCH.  81 

heard  to  say  :  "  These  are  my  beloved  sons,  in  whom  I  am 
well  pleased  !  "  * 

The  School  at  Paul  Quinn  College  has  had  the  benefit  of 
the  experience  of  the  Presiding  Bishop.  The  President  will 
give  a  detailed  account  in  his  report. 

The  men  of  the  District,  the  people  of  the  District,  have 
a  higher  conception  of  their  duty  than  they  ever  had  before. 
The  fraternal  relations  between  the  denominations  is  now 
cordial  and  pleasant.  Conference  reciprocity  has  been  ex- 
changed by  Bishops  and  Conferences,  and  the  seed  sown 
during  this  Quadrennium,  if  prcperly  cultivated,  will  yield  a 
rich  harvest  for  God  and  the  Race. 

The  Harper  Institute  at  Baton  Rouge  is  making  a  noble 
fight  with  prospects  of  succeeding,  because  the  ministers  and 
members  of  the  Louisiana  Conference  have  resolved  that  it 
must  succeed  and  shall  not  be  lost. 

The  Delhi  Institute  of  N".  Louisiana  Conference  will  be 
reported  by  its  President.  Its  success  and  prospects  will  be 
given,  and  you  will  be  enabled  to  see  what  your  duty  is  to 
this  school. 

Bishop  John  Mifflin  Brown  was  appointed  to  the  Elev- 
enth Episcopal  District,  composed  of  the  Kentucky,  West 
Kentucky,  Tennessee  and  West  Tennessee  Conferences.  He 
entered  upon  his  work  and  visited  many  places ;  lectured  and 
preached  to  the  people,  laid  plans  for  the  beginning  of  a  new 
era  of  educational  work  in  the  District,  had  he  been  spared 
to  carry  them  out.  He  held  one  round  of  his  annual  Con- 
ferences, but  at  the  beginning  of  his  second  round  of  visita- 
tions, he  was  taken  ill  and  had  to  be  taken  home,  where  he 
bravely  contended  against  the  disease  that  was  preying  upon 
his  system.  He  was  brave,  cheerful,  hopeful  and  confident ; 
met  the  last  enemy  without  dread  or  fear,  and  conquered  death 
on  the  16th  day  of  March,  1893,  at  12  o'clock,  high  noon,  at 
his  home  in  Washington,  D.  C,  surrounded  by  his  wife  and 
children  and  a  number  of  the  brethren. 


82  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

The  Bishops  appointed  Bishop  Wesley  J.  Gaines  to  su- 
perintend the  work  in  Kentucky  and  West  Kentucky  Con- 
ferences. Bishop  M.  B.  Salter  was  appointed  to  superintend 
the  Tennessee  and  West  Tennessee  Conferences.  He  has  la- 
bored very  faithfully  in  this  new  field ;  sowed  good  seed 
which  will,  no  doubt,  yield  an  abundant  harvest.  A  large 
number  of  members  have  been  received,  church  debts  re- 
duced, long-standing  churches  finished  and  dedicated.  The 
ministers  have  been  united  and  have  started  in  a  forward 
movement  to  support  the  Turner  Institute  at  Shelbyville, 
Tennessee. 

Bishop  Henry  McNeil  Turner  was  appointed  to  the 
Twelfth  Episcopal  District,  which  consists  of  Michigan,  On- 
tario, Nova  Scotia,  Bermuda,  Liberia,  Sierra  Leone,  San  Do- 
mingo, Hayti  and  Demerara  Annual  and  Missionary  Confer- 
ences. He  entered  upon  his  work,  labored  incessantly  night 
and  day,  traveling  on  land  and  sea,  to  superintend  this  vast 
field.  He  has  made  two  visits  to  Africa  and  has  greatly 
strengthened  the  work  on  the  "  Dark  Continent.  "  He  will 
give  you  the  details  of  his  visits  and  the  benefit  of  his  expe- 
rience, that  you  may  wisely  legislate  for  this  future  garden- 
spot  of  African  Methodism. 

December,  1893,  at  the  death  of  Bishop  Daniel  A.  Payne, 
Bishop  H.  M.  Turner  was  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the 
Ninth  Episcopal  District,  to  relieve  Bishop  B.  W.  Arnett, 
who  was  transferred  to  the  Third  Episcopal  District  to  suc- 
ceed Bishop  D.  A.  Payne. 

Bishop  Turner  has  labored  hard  and  faithfully  in  theNinth 
District.  He  has  held  several  Ministerial  Institutes  and  has 
given  new  life  to  the  Mite  Missionary  Society  among  the 
women.  There  have  been  many  members  received  into  the 
Church  ;  the  cause  of  Christian  education  has  been  carried 
home  to  minister  and  members,  so  that  the  watchword  in  the 
District  is  :  "  We  Must  Educate  or  Perish  ! " 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.  CHURCH.  83 

The  Home  work  of  the  Twelfth  District  is  in  good 
condition,  spiritually  and  financially.  The  members  have 
not  increased  so  fast,  because  there  are  only  a  few  persons  of 
our  race  in  the  territory  of  the  Twelfth  District.  We  now 
have  the  pleasure  of  presenting  a  "  Birds'  Eye  View"  of  the 
Missionary  work  under  the  general  supervision  of  Bishop 
Turner : 

FOREIGN  MISSIONARY  WORK. 

We  have  examined  the  Missionary  Department  and  re- 
viewed its  financial  progress;  we  now  call  your  attention  to 
the  occupied  and  unoccupied  missionary  fields  of  the  Church. 
Africa  is  the  largest  and  most  important  of  the  fields  that  lie 
before  us.  First,  because  of  the  number  of  persons  involved 
in  the  work;  second,  on  account  of  the  relationship  that  ex- 
ists between  our  race  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  "  Dark  Con- 
tinent;" third,  because  our  Church  is  better  adapted  to  the 
redemption  of  Africa  than  any  other  organization.  We  have 
the  largest  and  most  perfect  organization  among  the  darker 
races  for  the  moral  and  religious  training  of  the  people,  there- 
fore more  will  be  expected  of  us  than  from  those  who  are  less 
favored. 

The  African  work  divides  itself  into  three  parts : 

First,  The  Liberian. — April  17th,  1878,  Bishop  John  M. 
Brown  and  Rev.  A.  T.  Carr  organized  a  Liberian  Mission 
church,  in  Morris-Brown  A.  M.  E.  church,  Charleston,  S.  C. ; 
Bev.  S.  F.  Flegler  was  appointed  pastor;  Clement  Irons  and 
Scott  Bailey,  local  preachers  and  class-leaders;  trustees,  Clem- 
ent Irons,  Scott  Bailey  and  JohnBatiest.  Thirty  (30)  members 
were  enrolled.  They  sailed  on  the  barque  "  Azor,"  April  21, 
1878,  Easter  Sunday,  for  Monrovia,  Liberia,  where  they  landed 
after  forty-three  (43)  days  voyage,  and  were  received  by  the 
President  and  officers  of  the  Government,  and,  by  permission, 
were  allowed  to  worship  in  the  Seminary  with  the  M.  E. 
Church,  for  several  months. 

A  few  months  after  their  arrival,  a  Station  was  organized 


84  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

at  Brewers ville,  and  was  called  Bethel.  Elder  Fleger  labored 
for  three  (3)  years  and  returned  home,  and  left  the  work  in 
charge  ot  S.  J.  Campbell  and  Clement  Irons. 

The  Liberian  Government  gave  us  100  acres  to  establish 
a  School  and  Station. 

The  Liberia  Missionary  Conference  was  organized  by 
Bishop  H.  M.  Turner,  November  23rd,  1891,  with  two 
(2)  elders,  eight  (8)  deacons  and  three  (3)  evangelists ; 
six  (6)  mission-houses,  four  (4)  local  preachers,  three  (3) 
exhorters  and  two  hundred  and  eight  (208)  members.  This 
work  has  taken  new  life  since  the  last  General  Conference ; 
and  all  that  is  needed  is  to  hold  up  the  hands  of  the  men  who 
are  carrying  the  banner  of  our  Christian  civilization,  and 
giving  aid  and  comfort  to  the  aLone  Star  Republic."  The  first 
boat  built  to  ply  on  the  St,  Paul  River  and  carry  the  Gospel, 
was  built  by  Clement  Irons,  a  native  of  South  Carolina. 
Providence  appears  to  be  on  our  side ;  the  United  States  Gov- 
ernment has  appointed  one  of  bur  ministers  to  represent  the 
General  Government  at  the  Court  of  Liberia,  and  we  are 
pleased  to  say  that  the  Minister-resident  and  Consul-General 
has  not  forgotten  that  he  was  a  minister  of  the  African  Meth- 
odist Church,  and  that  he  owes  allegiance  to  a  human  and  a 
Divine  government.  The  details  of  the  work  in  Liberia  will 
be  given  in  the  report  of  the  President  of  the  Missionary 
Board. 

The  Second  Field  is  the  "  Sierra  Leone "  Conference. 
"Sierra  Leone,"  a  British  colony,  was  originally  founded  as 
an  asylum  for  Africans  who  were  bought  for  rum  and  money 
or  captured  by  violence  by  white  slave-traders.  The  slave- 
ships  in  which  they  were  imprisoned  were  caught  on  the  high 
seas  by  British  cruisers  and  they  were  returned  to  their  nat- 
ural freedom  in  this  colony.  The  Church  Missionary  Society 
labored  for  the  salvation  of  Africa  ;  their  first  mission  was 
established  in  1816.  The  Rev.  J.  R.  Frederick,  of  the  New 
England  Conference,  was  appointed  to   Africa  by  Bishop  J. 


BISHOP  BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  LEE,   D.  D.  LL.  D. 

Born  September  18th,  1841,  at  Gouldtown,  New  Jersey. 
Ordained  Bishop,  May  19th,  1892. 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.  CHURCH.  85 

A.  Shorter  in  1886.  He  sailed  from  New  York  the  same  year 
by  way  of  Liverpool  and  arrived  in  Freetown,  January  2nd, 
1887.  He  was  cordially  received  by  members  of  the  Countess 
of  Huntingdon  Connection,  who  desired  to  be  united  with  the 
African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  A  very  large  number 
of  his  congregation  were  the  descendants  of  the  Nova  Scotians 
who  landed  on  the  coast  March  28th,  1792.  After  spending 
some  time  in  completing  the  preliminary  arrangements,  the 
members  were  transferred  to  the  A.  M.  E.  Church,  which  has 
given  us  the  first  piece  of  property,  purchased  in  Africa,  for 
church  purposes.  Thus  Providence  has  given  us  a  high  honor 
and  great  responsibilities  as  well,  for  we  own  the  first  land 
purchased  for  church  purposes  in  America,  Hayti,  San  Do- 
mingo, Demerara  and  the  Dominion  of  Canada.  This  work 
under  the  superintendence  of  the  Rev.  J.  R.  Frederick  has  so 
grown  that  in  1895  we  had  nine  (9)  mission  stations,  five  (5) 
ordained  ministers,  two  (2)  unordained,  nineteen  (19)  local 
preachers  and  exhorters,  and  three  (8)  evangelists,  six  hun- 
dred and  seventeen  (617)  full  members,  two  hundred  and  ten 
(210)  probationers,  four  hundred  and  eighty-seven  (487)  in- 
quirers. Grand  total  1314,  with  total  adherents  other  than 
members.  Total  1811.  Grand  total  of  3125.  Six  churches, 
two  school  houses  and  two  mission  houses.  Total  value  of 
church,  school  and  mission  property  $25,150.  It  is  impossi- 
ble for  us  to  convey  to  you  the  benefits  that  our  organization 
has  been  to  individuals,  families,  Freetown  and  the  surround- 
ing country.  Sister  Sarah  Gorham,  the  consecrated  and  devo- 
ted missionary,  labored  in  this  field,  did  much  good,  laid  her 
life  upon  the  altar  and  became  a  martyr  for  the  redemption  of 
Africa.  The  noble  and  heroic  women  of  our  Church  are 
building  a  Memorial  Church  in  Africa  in  honor  to  this  first 
Woman  Evangelist  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church,  who  laid  down 
her  life  for  the  sacred  cause  of  Christian  Missions.  Sister 
Gorham  has  become  the  Mother  of  Christian  martyrs  in  Sierra 
Leone.  Presiding  Elder  Frederick  will  give  you  a  detailed 
report  to  the  members  of  this  General  Conference? 


86  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

The  Third  Field  is  that  part  of  Africa  that  is  unoccupied 
by  our  Church.  We  have  letters  and  petitions  from  the 
Gold  Coast  and  South  Africa,  calling  us  to  come  and 
organize  the  A.  M.  E.  Church.  The  communications  will  be 
laid  before  the  committee,  and  we  trust  that  our  action  will 
be  such  that  some  of  our  young  men  will  take  up  our  banner 
and  that  of  the  Cross  and  plant  them  on  the  ramparts  of  su- 
perstition and  sin  in  "  Darkest  Africa,"  and  with  trumpet 
tones  bid  the  children  of  the  tropics  to  "  Rise  and  shine," 
for  their  "  Light  has  come ! " 

The  West  Indies. — The  Mission  work  in  Hayti  was  be- 
gun by  our  fathers  as  early  as  1824,  when  Richard  Robinson 
and  Scipio  Bean  were  ordained  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  our 
brethren.  The  work  has  continued  until  this  time — contin- 
ued with  varied  success.  Dr.  J.  M.  Townsend  revived  the 
work  during  his  administration  and  built  an  iron  church. 
Rev.  C.  W.  Mossell  and  wife  labored  faithfully,  rebuilding  the 
old  walls,  and  the  inhabitants  rejoiced.  Five  young  men 
were  sent  to  Wilberforce  University  to  be  educated  and  re- 
turned to  assist  in  the  development  of  their  country.  The 
Rev.  S.  G.  Dorsey  has  charge  of  the  work  as  Superintendent 
of  Education  and  Missions.  He  has  been  very  successful ; 
he  has  built  a  parsonage  of  eight  (8)  rooms,  a  school  house 
17x45,  bought  a  horse  and  buggy  to  enable  him  to  travel  to 
other  missionary  points.  He  has  collected  and  expended  to 
May,  1895,  $14,234.  He  has  also  received  a  number  of  mem- 
bers, established  day  schools  in  several  places.  We  are  under 
many  obligations  to  President  Hypolyte  and  the  Haytien  gov- 
ernment for  the  courtesy  shown  our  missionaries  and  the  sup- 
port given  our  work.  We  should  take  cognizance  of  their 
support  by  passing  suitable  resolutions  and  conveying  the 
same  to  them. 

San  Domingo. — There  is  something  very  inspiring  in  the 
name  of  "  San  Domingo.  ".  It  occupies  a  unique  place  in  the 
history  of  the  New  World.     History  tells  us  that  Christopher 


BISHOPS  OF  THB  A.  M.  E.   CHURCH.  S7 

Columbus  built  the  first  fort  and  laid  the  foundation  for  the 
first  town  in  the  Western  hemisphere  on  this  historic  island. 
Slavery  was  introduced  on  the  island ;  the  Red  man  was  its 
first  victim ;  the  Caribbean  soon  fell  before  the  ravages  of 
hunger  and  toil ;  Negroes  were  substituted  in  1501  for  the 
weak  Caribbeans.  The  French  National  Assembly  abolished 
slavery,  May  15th,  1795.  Napoleon  I.  attempted  to  re-estab- 
lish it,  but  he  failed  through  the  bravery  of  Toussaint  L'Over- 
ture,  the  hero,  warrior  and  statesman.  What  Toussaint  left 
undone,  Desalaines  completed  and  no  slave  has  breathed  on 
that  island  since,  and  the  voice  of  the  slaveholder  has  been 
silenced  forever.  The  governments  of  Hayti  and  San  Domin- 
go have  been  endeavoring  to  demonstrate  the  ability  of  the 
Negro  for  self-government  during  a  period  of  eighty  (80)  odd 
years.  The  Independent  Governments  have  been  recognized 
by  all  civil  governments.  What  these  governments  are  in 
the  political  world,  the  A.  M.  E.  Church  and  her  leaders  are 
to  the  Christian  world :  each  striving  to  demonstrate  the  Ne- 
gro's ability  to  organize,  support  and  defend  their  govern- 
ments and  institutions.  Therefore  there  is  an  intimate  rela- 
tion between  the  Independent  Governments  of  the  Antilles 
and  the  A.  M.  E.  Church.  The  government  in  San  Domingo 
has  recognized  this  fact  during  this  Quadrennium.  Through 
the  good  offices  of  the  President,  our  property  that  was  about 
to  be  lost,  has  been  restored,  and  our  work  is  waiting  for  this 
General  Conference  to  touch  it  with  the  hand  of  wisdom  and 
power  and  start  it  on  the  errands  of  religion,  mercy  and  love. 

We  call  your  attention  to  the  report  of  the  Superinten- 
dent of  Missions  in  San  Domingo,  wTho  will  give  a  detailed 
account  of  our  work  on  this  historical  island. 

The  work  in  St.  Thomas  will  demand  your  special  atten- 
tion. The  report  of  the  Missionary  will  be  laid  before  you. 
The  work  on  this  island  is  too  important  to  be  allowed  to 
pass  altogether  out  of  our  hands.  Provision  should  be  made 
to  have  the  work  restored  to  its  former  relation  to  our  gov- 
ernment as  per  agreement  with  the  Danish  government. 


88  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

Demerara  still  lifts  her  hands  and  cries,  "  Come  and  help 
us  !  "  We  trust  that  her  prayers  may  be  heard  and  answered, 
and  that  the  power  and  influence  of  our  Church  may  be  felt 
by  the  inhabitants  of  British  Guiana. 

OPEN  FIELDS. 

We  must  make  ample  preparation — wise  and  judicious 
preparation— to  furnish  means  and  men  to  occupy  and  culti- 
vate the  open  fields  that  lie  waiting  for  us  to  send  laborers  in- 
to the  Master's  vineyard.  God  has  given  us  great  opportu- 
nities to  do  good;  He  has  committed  the  destiny  of  untold 
millions  to  our  ministry  to  mould  and  shape  into  "  vessels  of 
honor"  or  "dishonor."  Let  us,  therefore,  so  legislate  that  it 
will  require  centuries  of  the  time  of  the  coming  generations 
to  complete  the  superstructure,  whose  foundation  we  lay  by 
the  crystalization  of  the  loyal  wisdom  of  this  General  Con- 
ference. 

THREE  BISHOPS. 

Feeling  deeply  the  loss  of  our  honored,  revered  and 
illustrious  colleagues, — and  realizing  the  value  of  our  inheri- 
tance and  the  magnitude  of  the  work  to  be  done  in  the  future, 
we  recommend  that  this  General  Conference  elect  three  (3) 
Elders  to  be  ordained  Bishops ;  and  that  they  possess  the 
Pauline  qualifications  of  intelligence,  goodness,  experience 
and  usefulness, — a  love  for  God  and  their  fellow-men, — men 
who  know  and  who  love  our  Doctrines,  Usages  and  Discip- 
line, and  are  supremely  loyal  to  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ,  and  from  whose  past  career  the  Church  would  have 
reason  to  expect  a  successful  administration  of  its  vast  inter- 
ests. 

THE  METHODIST  CHURCH  AND  THE  RACE. 

Of  all  the  Protestant  Churches,  the  Methodist  was  the 
first  to  make  special  arrangements  for  the  Negro's  moral,  re- 
ligious and  educational  training. 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.  CHURCH.  89 

On  November  27th,  1758,  Rev.  John  Wesley  rode  to 
Wandsworth  and  baptized  two  (2)  Negro's  belonging  to  Sir 
Nathan  Gilbert,  Speaker  in  the  House  of  Assembly  in  Anti- 
jua,  British-  West  Indies.  He  says  of  them  :  "One  of  them 
is  deeply  convicted  of  sin ;  the  other  rejoiced  in  God,  her 
Saviour,  and  are  the  first  African  Methodists  I  have  known." 

In  1759,  Mr.  Gilbert  started  a  class  among  the  slaves  and 
these  two  (2)  colored  women  were  the  first  to  join  ;  and  from 
this  little  band  has  grown  "  West  Indian  Methodism.  " 

The  first  class  in  America  was  organized  in  New  York, 
October,  1766,  and  consisted  of  the  following  persons  :  Paul 
Heck,  Barbara  Heck,  John  Lawrence,  Mrs.  Embry  and  Betty 
an  African  servant. " 

Robert  Strawbridge  formed  a  Society  at  Sam's  Creek, 
Md.,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1766.  There  were  twrelve 
(12)  persons  present,  and  one  of  them  was  Aunt  Annie  Sweitzer. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Christmas  Conference,  December 
25th,  1784,  among  those  who  attended  the  organization  of 
American  Methodism  was  Harry  Hosier  and  Richard  Allen. 
They  were  recognized  as  Local  Preachers  and  traveled  as  Ju- 
nior Preachers  through  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey  and  Del- 
aware. 

In  1786,  Bishop  Asbury  organized  the  first  Sunday  School 
at  Thomas  CrenshawT's,  Virginia.  The  first  convert  in  the 
school  was  John  Charleston.  He  became  a  Local  Preacher 
after  his  conversion  ;  was  purchased  by  the  Methodist  Preach- 
ers and  liberated ;  removed  to  the  State  of  Ohio;  joined  the 
A.  M.  E.  Church ;  was  a  member  of  the  General  Conference, 
1836,  and  died  in  the  full  triumph  of  faith  at  Pittsburgh, 
Pa.,  in  1838. 

Richard  Allen  became  a  Missionary  Preacher  in  1785 ; 
labored  in  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania  and  Delaware.  The 
Lord  wonderfully  blessed  his  work  in  St.  George  in  1785  and 
1786.  He  oftimes  preached  three  to  five  sermons  in  a  day, 
beginning  at  5  o'clock  a.  m.     His    brethren  flocked   to   his 


90  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

standard,  and  St.  George  was  crowded  with  the  trophies  of 
salvation. 

In  November,  1786,  forty-two  (42)  persons  met  Richard 
Allen  and  organized  a  class.  He  became  its  leader,  teacher 
and  preacher.  It  was  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  race 
on  the  American  continent  where  one  of  its  own  number  be- 
came a  leader  of  the  moral  and  religious  forces. 

In  1787  Richard  Allen  purchased  a  lot  on  Sixth  street, 
near  Lombard,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  to  build  a  church 
upon.  He  bought  an  old  blacksmith  shop,  repaired  it  and 
made  a  place  of  worship  out  of  it.  It  was  completed  in  1794 ; 
but  before  they  entered  the  house,  June  10th,  1794,  they  is- 
sued the  following  "  Declaration  of  Independence,  "  which 
was  adopted  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  congregation,  as 
follows : 

"  "We  consider  every  child  of  God  a  member  of  the  mysti- 
cal body  of  Christ.  *  *  Yet  in  the  political  government  of 
our  Church,  we  prohibit  our  white  brethren  from  electing  or 
being  elected  into  any  office  among  us,  save  that  of  a  preach- 
er or  public  speaker." 

They  gave  the  following  reasons  why  they  had  declared 
for  Manhood  Christianity : 

v  "  Whereas,  From  time  to  time  many  inconveniences 
have  arisen  from  white  people  and  people  of  color  mixing  to- 
gether in  public  assemblies,  *  *  *  we  have  thought  it 
necessary  to  provide  for  ourselves  a  house  separate  from 
our  white  brethren  :  (1.)  To  obviate  any  offense  or  mixing 
with  our  white  brethren  might  give  them.  (2.)  To  preserve 
as  much  as  possible  from  the  crafty  wiles  of  the  enemy  our 
weak-minded  brethren,  from  taking  offence  at  such  partial- 
ity as  they  might  be  led  to  think  contrary  to  the  spirit  of  the 
Gospel,  in  which  there  is  neither  male  nor  female,  barbarian 
nor  Scythian,  bond  nor  free,  but  all  are  one  in  Christ  Jesus. 
(3.)  That  we  might  the  more  freely  and  fully  hold  the  faith 
in  unity  of  spirit  and  the  bonds  of  peace  together." 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.  CHURCH  91 

After  issuing  this  Declaration  of  Independence  and  pro- 
viding articles  of  incorporation,  Richard  Allen  invited  Bish- 
op Asbury  to  dedicate  this  new  organization  and  Church  to 
the  worship  of  Almighty  God.  On  June  29th,  1794,  Bishop 
Francis  Asbury,  assisted  by  Rev.  John  Dickens,  dedicated  the 
Church  and  called  it  "  Bethel."  The  ground  on  which  the 
building  stood  is  now  occupied  by  "Bethel  Church,  Phila- 
delphia," and  the  new  organization  began  its  semi-independent 
career.  Richard  Allen  was  given  charge  and  became  the  first 
pastor  of  a  Race  Church  of  Protestant  Christianity.  He  con- 
tinued to  administer  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  flock  for 
sixteen  (16)  years  before  another  Race  church  was  built,  and 
his  class  was  nine  (9)  years  old  before  another  was  organized 
in  the  Methodist  Church.  His  success,  was  phenomenal  and 
was  not  confined  to  his  own  people,  and  when  he  broke  the 
Bread  of  Life  it  was  partaken  by  the  hungry  of  all  races. 

In  1793  a  committee  was  appointed  by  the  St.  Thomas 
Protestant  Church,  who  invited  Richard  Allen  to  become  their 
pastor.  He  was  the  only  recognized  colored  preacher  in  Penn- 
sylvania at  that  time. 

Bishop  Asbury,  March  18th,  1789,  makes  the  following 
record : 

"  I  received  a  letter  from  the  African  Preacher,  Richard 
Allen  and  Society  in  Philadelphia,  giving  me  an  account  of  a 
revival  of  the  work  of  God  in  the  congregations  of  the  Meth- 
odists in  the  city,  amongst  both  white  and  black." 

Richard  Allen  refused  to  become  the  pastor  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church,  because  he  said  he  was  a  Methodist  and  could 
not  be  anything  else ;  "  for  he  was  indebted  to  the  Methodists, 
under  God,  for  what  little  religion  he  had ;  and  being  con- 
vinced that  they  were  the  people  of  God,  he  would  not  leave 
nor  forsake  them. " 

CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION. 

In  1899  we  will  be  called  upon  to  celebrate  one  of  the 
most  important  events  that  occurred  in  the  eighteenth  centu- 


92  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

ry — the  ordination  of  Richard  Allen  by  Bishop  Francis  As- 
bury — the  day  that  he  was  set  apart  and  consecrated  to  the 
holy  ministry  of  the  Church  of  God.  That  day  was  the  be- 
ginning of  an  epoch  in  the  history  of  Protestantism,  an  era 
in  Methodism  and  a  Golden  Age  in  the  commonwealth  of 
Christianity. 

It  was  best  fitting  that  this  great  honor  should  be  con- 
ferred on  one  who  was  the  pioneer  in  Race  Leadership  ;  the 
pathfinder,  the  opener,  the  Moses  to  lead  his  people  from  the 
Egypt  of  ecclesiastical  bondage  to  the  Canaan  of  manhood 
Christianity. 

He  was  the  first  of  his  race  to  organize  its  moral  and 
religious  forces ;  he  was  the  first  to  originate  a  plan  for  the 
release  of  his  race  and  to  execute  the  same.  By  the  wisdom 
displayed  in  laying  the  foundation  of  our  Church,  it  has  been 
able  to  pass  through  four  (4)  distinct  organic  periods:  The 
Dependent  Period,  the  Inter-dependent,  the  Semi-dependent 
and  the  Independent,  which  began  in  1816. 

Richard  Allen  leads  the  procession  of  all  the  ordained 
men  of  his  race,  and  will  stand  at  the  head  of  the  procession 
for  an  hundred  generations.  We  cannot  do  too  much  to  hon- 
or his  name,  for  after  his  call  to  the  ministry  he  "  grew  and  . 
waxed  strong  in  spirit,  and  increased  in  wisdom  and  in  stat- 
ure and  in  favor  with  God  and  man."  Since  God  has  given 
us  such  a  priceless  heritage,  let  us  make  ample  preparation 
to  celebrate  the  "Centennial  Year  of  the  Ordination  of 
the  First  Negro  of  Protestant  Christianity  !  " 

THE  HARVEST. 

The  conflict  for  Manhood  Christianity  began  in  1766,  in 
St.  George's,  Philadelphia,  Pa.  The  armies  of  right  and 
wrong,  justice  and  injustice,  liberty  and  slavery,  equal  rights 
and  oppression,  have  joined  issue  in  pulpit,  platform  and  leg- 
islative hall.  In  every  contest  the  banner  of  the  Cross  has 
triumphed  and  the  army  of  Zion  has  gained  the  victory. 
Many    question  the  propriety  of  the  organization    of  racial 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.  CHURCH.  93 

churches.  We  agree  that  such  churches  are  not  essential  to 
salvation,  but  we  believe  at  the  same  time  that  they  are  es- 
sential to  the  moral  and  religious  development  of  a  large 
number  of  men  and  women  who  otherwise  would  have  been 
neglected. 

The  age  in  which  we  live  demands  answers  to  the  ques- 
tions :  "  What  have  these  separate  organizations  accomplish- 
ed ?  What  are  the  results  of  their  labors  ?  What  the  har- 
vest of  their  fathers'  sowing  ?  What  the  gathering  of  corpo- 
rate wealth  ?  What  has  been  the  accumulation  of  legislative, 
judicial  and  executive  experience  in  making  and  executing 
laws,  in  planning,  maintaining  and  organizing  institutions  for 
charitable  and  benevolent  purposes  ?"  The  answer  to  all  of 
these  questions  is  given  in  the  history  and  achievements  of 
the  A.  M.  E.,  the  A.  M.  E.  Zion,  and  the  C.  M.  E.  Churches. 
They  show  what  is  possible  for  organizations  controlled  by 
the  race  can  do. 

After  our  review  of  the  marvelous  growth  and  develop- 
ment of  the  Church  of  our  Fathers,  we  can  say  of  a  truth 
that  "  the  Lord  has  done  great  things  for  us  whereof  we  are 
glad,"  and  with  thankful  and  grateful  hearts  magnify  His 
holy  name. 

The  hand  of  God  is  visible  in  the  organization  and  growth 
of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church.  If  ever  a  man  were  a  child  of  Prov- 
idence, Richard  Allen  was  one.  Providence  not  only  called 
him,  but  he  answered  and  performed  well  the  duties  assigned 
him,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  an  organization  that  has  been 
the  pioneer  in  every  effort  for  the  liberation,  education  and 
elevation  of  a  long-oppressed  and  down-trodden  race.  He 
was  the  Columbus  in  discovering  the  new  and  shorter  route 
to  the  enjoyment  of  religious  liberty.  He  was  our  moral  and 
religious  Mayflower,  organizing  the  moral  and  religious  forces 
of  the  race  and  giving  to  his  race  the  advantages  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  Plymouth  Rock.  » 

He  was  the  first  Negro  on  the  American  continent  to  con- 
ceive of  the  possibility  and  desirability  of  organizing  Day 


94  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

Schools,  Night  Schools,  Sunday  Schools  and  Churches  with 
the  distinctive  Race  Leaders. 

He  was  the  first  to  conceive  and  lay  out  a  plan  for  his 
fellow  countrymen  to  follow. 

What  Washington  was  in  the  struggle  for  American 
Independence,  Richard  Allen  was  to  the  struggle  for  the 
recognition  of  Manhood  Christianity  in  the  Negro. 

He  was  the  first  Negro  ordained  a  Deacon  in  the  Meth- 
odist family  in  the  world,  and  the  first  Negro  Bishop  of 
Protestant  Christianity. 

He  was  trained  by  the  Pioneers  of  American  Methodism 
and  in  the  school  of  self-sacrifice  and  self-denial.  His  teach- 
ers were  distinguished  for  their  piety,  learning  and  love  for 
God  and  man ;  while  his  classmates  and  companions  were 
eminent,  learned,  zealous  and  useful  to  their  day  and  genera- 
tion. But  not  one  of  the  illustrious  band  of  Gospel  ministers 
accomplished  more  for  the  sacred  cause  of  Christianity  to  the 
poor  than  did  Richard  Allen.  If  one  has  any  doubt  as  to  the 
amount  of  good  accomplished  by  the  distinctive  Negro  organ- 
izations, they  will  find  full  satisfaction  by  reading  and  con- 
trasting the  organization  purely  Negro  and  those  that  belong 
to  other  organizations,  and  are  only  semi-Negro  organizations. 

The  distinctive  Negro  organizations  as  reported  in  the 
Census  of  1890 : 

"  The  numerical  status  of  the  Negro  at  the  end  of  three 
decades  of  freedom  is  as  follows:  We  find  that  the  census 
says  of  them,  in  the  Southern  States,  that  in  1840  the  num- 
ber of  negroes  was  2,686,636  ;  in  1850  the  per  cent,  of  increase 
was  21.6,  with  a  total  of  3,369,934;  in  1860  the  per  cent,  of 
increase  was  22.1,  and  the  total,  4,018,389;  in  1870  the  per 
cent  of  increase  was  9.9,  and  the  total  4,242,003 ;  in  1880  the 
per  cent  was  34.8,  and  the  total,  5,643,891.  In  1890  we  find 
the  Negro  is  classed  as  follows  :  Persons  of  African  descent : 
Blacks,  6,337,980;  Mulattoes  (white  man  and  black  man), 
996,989 ;  Quadroons  (mulatto  and  white),  105,135 ;  Octoroons, 
69,936,  making  a  grand  total  of  7,470,040.  The  per  cent  of 
increase  in  1890  was  13.90.  This  makes  an  increase  from  1860 
of  3,451,651." 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  E.  CHURCH.  95 

If  we  increase  as  we  have  in  the  past,  say  twenty-five  per 
cent,  on  the  present  numbers,  we  will  go  into  the  twentieth 
century  with  9,337,560  men,  women  and  children,  all  the  child- 
ren of  freedom  ;  only  a  few  of  them  will  have  come  from  the 
house  of  bondage.  There  is  great  hope  for  the  race  to-day, 
with  the  advantages  of  training  and  culture  that  belong  to  all. 

Let  us  examine  the  decades  of  religious  development. 
When  the  Negro  was  emancipated  there  were  only  a  few  dis- 
tinct Negro  organizations,  and  they  were  confined  to  the  North 
and  not  to  the  South ;  but  as  the  army  pushed  on  toward  the 
South,  the  missionaries  of  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  other  followers  of  the  flag,  followed  and  organ- 
ized the  moral  and  religious  forces. 

"  The  distinctive  Negro  organizations  make  the  following 
magnificent  showing  :  Regular  Baptists,  A.  M.  E.  Church, 
Union  A.  M.  E.  Church,  American  Union  Methodist,  A.  M.  E. 
Zion,  Congregational,  Methodist,  C.  M.  E.  Church,  Zion  Union 
Apostolic,  Evangelical  Missionary,  and  Cumberland  Presbyte- 
rian. '  These  have  19,859  organizations,  20,007  church  edifices, 
valued  at  $22,626,434,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  5,802,314, 
a  membershirj  of  2,591,129,  while  adherents  and  member- 
ship number  5,650,228." 

These  organizations  are  controlled  and  supported  wholly 
by  the  Negro  himself,  and  are  legitimate  results  of  his  own 
labor  since  freedom. 

The  following  denominations  are  colored  organizations 
in  other  organizations.  They  are  controlled  by  white  people, 
but  are  composed  of  colored  people  : 

"  Regular  Baptist  North,  Regular  Baptist  South,  Free 
Will  Baptist,  Primitive  Baptist,  Old  Two  Seed  Baptist,  Ro- 
man Catholic,  Christian  Connection,  Congregational,  Disci- 
ples of  Christ,  Methodist  Protestant,  Methodist  Episcopal, 
Lutheran  S.  C,  Lutheran  U.  S.  South,  Independent  Metho- 
dist, Presbyterians  North,  Presbyterians  South,  Reformed 
Presbyterians,  Protestant  Episcopal,  Reformed  Episcopal. 
Total  denominations,  19 ;  organizations,  4,713  ;  church  edi- 
fices, 4,139  ;  seating  capacity,  1,008,651 ;  valuation,  $6,236,- 


96  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

734 ;  membership,    307,826 ;  total    adherents   and    members, 

775,652." 

"  Uniting  the  two,  we  have  a  total  in  denomination  of 
29  ;  in  organization,  24,572  :  in  church  edifices,  21,146  ;  seat- 
ing capacity,  6,810,965  ;  in  valuation,  $29,863,168  ;  in  mem- 
bers, 2,751,955  ;  in  members  and  adherents,  6,325,880." 

These  figures  will  show  the  result  of  three  decades  of  the 
organization  of  the  moral  and  religious  forces  of  the  race. 
The  following  will  give  an  idea  of  what  the  Methodist  de- 
nominations have  done : 

"  The  Negro  Methodist  churches  have  12,434  pastors, 
25,788  local  preachers,  1,304,729  members,  and  4,316,815  mem- 
bers and  adherents.  The  total  number  of  pastors,  ministers, 
and  members  is  1,352,951." 

"  The  Negro  Methodist  churches  have  13,923  Sunday 
schools,  110,970  officers  and  teachers,  and  950,047  pupils. 
Church  buildings  number  14,850,  while  church  and  school 
property  is  valued  at  $29,486,514." 

"  The  Institutions  of  Learning  in  the  Negro  Methodist 
Church,  and  used  for  the  education  of  their  children,  num- 
ber 52.  The  employ  375  teachers,  and  have  10,556  students. 
Their  school  property  is  valued  at  $1,817,850." 

This  magnificent  showing  stands  to  the  credit  of  the  men 
who  planted  the  denomination  trees  and  watered  them  with 
their  tears  and  sanctified  the  soil  with  their  toil  and  blood. 

What  has  the  A.M.  E.  Church  and  other  denominations 
distinctively  racial  accomplished  ?  They  have  taught  by  pre- 
cept and  example  the  doctrines  of  Moses,   Paul  and  Peter. 

Moses  said :  "And  the  Lord  God  said,  Let  us  make  man 
in  our  image,  after  our  likeness  ;  and  let  them  have  dominion 
over  the  fish  of  the  sea,  &c.  So  God  created  man  in  His  own 
image;  ir  the  image  of  God  created  He  him:  male  and  fe- 
male created  He  them.  And  God  said  unto  them  be  fruitful 
and  multiply  and  replenish  the  earth,  and  subdue  it;  and  have 
dominion  over  the  fish  of  the  sea,"  &c. — Gen.  1 :  26-28. 

Paul  on  Mars'  Hill,  before  the  Supreme  Court  of  Athens, 
said  :    "  And  hath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men  for 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.   E.  CHURCH.  97 

to  dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  hath  determined  the 
time  before  appointed,  and  the  bounds  of  their  habitation  that 
they  should  seek  the  Lord,  if  haply  they  might  feel  after  Him 
and  find  Him,  though  He  be  not  far  from  every  one  of  us." 
Acts  xvi,  26-27. 

Peter  at  Cesarea,  in  the  house  of  Cornelius  the  Roman 
centurion,  said  :  "  Of  a  truth,  I  perceive  that  God  is  no  res- 
pecter of  persons ;  but  in  every  nation,  he  that  feareth  Him 
and  worketh  righteousness  is  accepted  with  Him." — Acts  x, 
34-35. 

Malachi,  the  last  Prophet  of  the  Old  Testament,  says : 
"Have  we  not  all  one  Father?  Hath  not  one  God  created 
us?"— Mai.  2:10. 

Jesus,  the  greatest  of  all  Teachers,  said:  "Other  sheep 
have  I  which  are  not  of  this  fold  :  them  also  I  must  bring  ; 
and  they  shall  hear  my  voice,  and  there  shall  be  one  fold  and 
one  Shepherd." — John  x,  16. 

Again,  He  said :  "Go  ye  therefore  and  teach  all  nations; 
baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  the  Son,  and 
of  the  Holy  Ghost."— Matt,  xxvii,  19. 

God  recognizes  the  unity  of  the  races  when  it  is  said  of 
Him  :  "  God  so  loved  the  world  that  He  gave  His  only  begot- 
ten Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  Him  should  not  perish, 
but  have  eternal  life." — John  iii,  16. 

The  universality  of  the  Atonement  is  taught  in  the  song 
of  the  redeemed  in  Rev.  v,  9  :  "And  they  sung  a  new  song, 
saying,  Thou,  art  worthy  to  take  the  Book  and  to  open  the 
seals  thereof;  for  Thou  was  slain,  and  hast  redeemed  us  to 
God  by  Thy  blood  out  of  every  kindred  and  tongue  and  peo- 
ple and  nation,  and  has  made  us  unto  our  God,  kings  and 
priests,  and  we  shall  reign  on  the  earth," 

Also,  in  Rev.  xxi,  24,  the  inhabitants  of  the  Celestial 
City  are  spoken  of :  "  And  the  nations  of  them  which  are 
saved  shall  walk  in  the  light  of  it :  and  the  kings  of  the  earth 
do  bring  their  glory  and  honor  unto  it.     And  the  gates  of  the 


98  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

city  shall  not  be  shut  at  all  by  day ;  for  there  shall  be  no  night 
there." 

The  sentiments  of  the  founders  of  the  American  Repub- 
lic on  the  principles  of  the  Fatherhood  of  God  and  the  Broth- 
erhood of  Man  are  expressed  in  the  following  words  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  :  "  We  hold  these  truths  to  be 
self-evident,  that  all  men  are  created  equal  and  endowed  by 
their  Creator  with  certain  inalienable  rights  among  which  are 
life,  liberty  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness.  That  to  secure 
these  rights  Governments  are  instituted  among  men  deriving 
their  just  powers  from  the  consent  of  the  governed." 

Again,  we  find  the  following  in  the  dedication,  of  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States :  "  We,  the  people  of  the  Uni- 
ted States,  in  order  to  form  a  more  perfect  union,  establish 
justice,  insure  domestic  tranquility,  provide  for  the  common 
defense,  promote  the  general  welfare',  and  to  secure  the  bless- 
ings of  liberty  to  ourselves  and  our  posterity,  do  ordain  and 
establish  this  Constitution  for  the  United  States  of  America." 

Bishop  Payne  crystalized  the  sentiment  of  all  the  dis- 
tinguished statesmen  and  churchmen  when  he  said  :  "  God 
our  Father;  Christ  our  Redeemer;  Man  our  Brother."  This  is 
the  Official  Motto  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church,  and  her  mission 
in  the  Commonwealth  of  Christianity  is  to  bring  all  denomi- 
nations and  races  to  acknowledge  and  practice  the  sentiments 
contained  therein.  When  these  sentiments  are  universal  in 
theory  and  practice,  then  the  mission  of  the  distinctive  col- 
ored organization  will  cease.  The  following  are  some  of  the 
specific  things  for  the  colored  organization  to  do  : 

I.  To  organize  the  Moral,  Religious  and  Educational 
Forces. 

II.  To  encourage  the  organization  of  the  Social  efforts, 
the  Mutual  Aid,  Benevolent  and  Christian  efforts  of  the  Race. 

III.  To  support  the  Commercial,  Agricultural  and  Finan- 
cial efforts  of  the  Race. 

IV.  To  train  the  members  in  the  laws  of  Business  and 
Parliamentary  practice  in  Trustee  and  Official  Boards. 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M.  B.   CHURCH.  99 

V.  To  give  them  practice  in  application  of  the  princi- 
ples of  Government  in  developing  and  maintaining  Institu- 
tions for  the  elevation  of  the  Race. 

VI.  To  give  an  opportunity  to  show  by  example  what 
is  possible  for  the  Negro  to  do  for  himself  and  others. 

VII.  To  stand  as  a  living  protest  against  caste  in  the 
Church,  at  the  Sacramental  Table  and  in  the  Ministry. 

VIII.  To  give  opportunity  to  individuals  to  grow  and 
develop  into  full  rounded  men,  mentally ,  morally,  socially 
and  religiously.  To  teach  some  how  to  organize  and  how  to 
command. 

IX.  To  give  lessons  of  accountability.  How  to  collect, 
spend  and  account  for  the  money.  How  to  hold  offices  of 
trust,  honor  and  emolument.  How  to  arrange  the  tenure  of 
office. 

X.  To  teach  the  Race  how  to  obey,  honor  and  respect 
one  of  their  own  members,  and  how  to  select  Race  Leaders. 
It  makes  them  familiar  with  the  needs  of  the  Race  and  ele- 
ments of  Race  Elevation. 

XL  To  increase  in  the  young  men  and  women  Rate 
Pride. 

1.  By  preserving  the  biography  of  men  of  the  Race. 

2.  By  showing  that  we  need  not  be  ashamed  of  our 
origin  and  ancestry. 

4.  By  showing  that  originally  the  Negroes  were  the 
Leaders  of  Civilization. 

4.  That  they  were  among  the  most  active  promoters  of 
Christianity. 

5.  That  our  night  of  bondage  has  never  been  without 
the  star  of  hope. 

XII.  That  our  Moral  and  Intellectual  Day  has  begun, 
and  that  what  has  been,  may  be  in  the  future. 

XIII.  We  are  to  show  by  living  example  what  may  be 
accomplished  in  our  own  line  by  putting  ourselves  in  harmo- 
ny with  our  environments. 


100  THE  QUADRENNIAL  ADDRESS  OF  THE 

XIV.  We  are  to  hang  the  bow  of  promise  over  the 
pathway  of  the  retreating  storm  and  clouds  of  Slavery,  oppres- 
sion and  poverty. 

XV.  We  are  to  furnish  the  Race  with  an  Anchor  of 
Hope  that  they  can  cast  into  the  deepest  sea  and  which  will 
hold  until  every  son  and  daughter  of  Adam  has  secured  his 
equal  political  and  social  rights. 

XVI.  We  are  to  organize  the  moral  and  religious  forces 
of  America  and  form  an  alliance,  offensive  and  defensive,  with 
the  Darker  Children  of  Central  and  South  America  and,  with 
our  united  intelligence,  experience,  hope  and  faith,  say  to  our 
brothers  of  the  Greater  and  Lesser  Antilles,  "United  we 
stand,  but  divided  we  fall."  And  then  pursuing  our  onward 
march  for  the  Dark  Continent,  we  will  speak  to  the  more  than 
two  hundred  million  of  men  and  women,  bone  ot  our  bone; 
flesh  of  our  flesh,  and  say  to  them,  "  Arise,  and  shine,  for  the 
light  of  Civilization  is  waiting  for  thee." 

XVII.  The  child  is  born  whose  grand-child  will  see  the 
realization  of  our  most  sanguine  hopes  of  the  darker  races 
of  the  world. 

XVIII.  What  a  grand  sight  to  see  the  Grand  Review 
of  the  Mora! and  Religious  armies;  but  we  need  not  wait  for 
the  review  by  our  great-grand-children,  but  we  will  call  the 
armies  led  by  colored  men  to  pass  before  us  that  we  may  see 
what  we  are  doing  toward  the  moral,  religious  and  social 
elevation  of  the  Race. 

XIX.  The  educational  status  of  the  Negroes  and  the 
interest  that  the  M.  E.  Church,  M.  E.  Church  (South)  and  the 
Independent  Negro  organizations  are  doing  towards  the  eleva- 
tion of  the  Race.  One  of  the  greatest  problems  of  the  day 
is  the  Negro  Problem.  The  men  who  are  on  guard  as  watch- 
men must  lift  their  voices  and  blow  their  trumpets  and  give 
no  uncertain  sound. 

Dear  Brethren  : — Having  surveyed  the  Field  and  exam- 
ined the  Workmen  and  computed  our  Harvest  of  Souls  and 


; 


BISHOP  MOSES  B.  SALTER,  D.  D. 

Born  in  Charleston,  S.  C. 
Ordained  Bishop,  May  19th,  1892. 


BISHOPS  OF  THE  A.  M-  E.  CHURCH.  101 

the  ingathering  of  means  of  support  of  the  Church  of  our 
choice,  we  now  commit  to  your  keeping  the  honor  and  desti- 
ny of  our  organization.  It  is  with  you  to  say  what  will  he 
our  course  the  next  four  years. 

We  assure  you  that  we  are  ready  and  willing  to  co-oper- 
ate with  you  in  adjusting  and  readjusting  our  laws  to  meet 
the  demands  of  our  day  and  generation. 

We  trust  that  each  of  our  hearts  will  say :  "  Direct  us, 
O  Lord,  in  all  our  doings,  with  Thy  most  gracious  favor,  and 
further  us  with  Thy  continued  help,  that  in  all  our  work 
begun,  continued  and  ended  in  Thee,  we  may  glorify  Thy 
holy  name;  and  finally  by  Thy  mercy  obtain  everlasting  life, 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  And  may  the  peace  of  God, 
which  passeth  all  understanding,  keep  your  hearts  and  minds 
in  the  knowledge  and  love  of  God,  and  of  His  Son,  Jesus 
Christ,  our  Lord;  and  the  blessing  of  God  Almighty,  the 
Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  among  you,  and 
remain  with  you,  always.     Amen!  is  the  prayer  of 

Henry  M.  Turner, 
Wesley  J.  Gaines, 
Benjamin  W.  Arnett, 
Benjamin  T.  Tanner, 
Abram  Grant, 
Benjamin  F.  Lee, 
Moses  B.  Salter, 
James  A.  Handy, 


flbrogramme 


MONDAY,    MAY  4*1?,   1896. 


At  9  a.  m.  the  Church  will  be  opened  to  the  Public. 

9:30  a.  m.— Meeting  of  the  Bishops  and  Delegates  in  the  Lecture  Room 

9:40  a.  m—  Procession  to  form  and  move  to  the  Auditorium  in   the 
following  order. 

1.  Bishop  H.  M.  Turner,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  and  Bishop  W.  J.  Gaines,  D.  D. 

2.  Bishop  B.  W.  Arnett,  D.  D.,  and  Bishop  B.  T.  Tanner,  D.  D. 

3.  Bishop  A.  Grant,  D.  D.,  and  Bishop  B.  P.  Lee,  D.  D. 

4.  Bishop  M.  B.  Salter,  D.  D.,  and  Bishop  J.  A.  Handy,  D.  D. 

5.  Revs.  E.  J.  Gregg  and  F.  P.  Greenlee. 

GENERAL  OFFICERS. 

6.  Rev.  J.  C.  Embry,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  W.  B.  Derrick,  D.  D. 

7.  Rev.  H.  T.  Johnson,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  L.  J.  Coppin,  D.  D. 

8.  Rev.  J.  H.  Armstrong,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  C.  S.  Smith,  D.  D. 

9.  Rev.  W.  D.  Johnson  and  Rev.  C.  T.  Shaffer,  D.  D. 

10.  Rev.  A.  M.  Green,  D.  D. 

ANNUAL  CONFERENCES. 

11.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Philadelphia  Conference. 

12.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Baltimore  Conference. 

13.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  New  York  Conference. 

14.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Ohio  Conference. 

15.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Indiana  Conference. 

16.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  New  England  Conference. 

17.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Missouri  Conference. 

18.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  California  Conference. 

19.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  S.  Carolina  Conference. 

20.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Louisiana  Conference. 

21.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  N.  Carolina  Conference. 

22.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Virginia  Conference. 


23.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Georgia  Conference. 

24.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Florida  Conference. 

25.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Pittsburg  Conference. 

26.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Kentucky  Conference. 

27.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Tennessee  Conference. 

28.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Texas  Conference. 

29.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Arkansas  Conference. 

30.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Mississippi  Conference. 

31.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Alabama  Conference. 

32.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Illinois  Conference. 

33.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  New  Jersey  Conference. 

34.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  North  Georgia  Conierence. 

35.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  N.  Texas  Conference. 

36.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Kansas  Conference. 

37.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  W.  Tennessee  Conference. 

38.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  S.  Arkansas  Conference. 

39.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  N.  Mississippi  Conference. 

40.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  E.  Florida  Conference. 

41.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Columbia,  S.  C,  Conference. 

42.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  N.  Alabama  Conference. 

43.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of.N.  E.  Texas  Conference. 

44.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Indian  Teritory  Conference. 

45.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  W.  Kentucky  Conference. 

46.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  N.  Ohio  Conference. 

47.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  N.  Missouri  Conference. 

48.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  N.  Louisiana  Conference. 

49.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Iowa  Conference. 

50.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Macon,  Ga.,  Conference. 

51.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Michigan  Conference. 

52.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Colorado  Conference. 

53.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Burmuda  Conference. 

54.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Nova  Scotia  Conference. 

55.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Ontario  Conference. 

56.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Hayti  Conference. 

57.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  San  Domingo  Conference. 

58.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Demerara  Conference. 

59.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Sierra  Leone  Conference. 

60.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Liberia  Conference. 

61.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  W.  N.  Carolina  Conference. 

62.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Central  Alabama  Conference. 

63.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  N.  E.,  S.  Carolina  Conference. 

64.  Delegates  and  Alternates  of  Middle  Mississippi  Conference. 

^he  Bishops  will  seat  themselves  on  the  platform  and  the  Delegates  in  the 
auditorium. 


©r&er  of  JBxevcieee. 


The   Conference  will  be  opened  by  singing    "Praise  God  from  whom  all 
blessings  flow." 

1.  Hymn,        -  Lined  by  Bishop  H.  M.  Turner,  D.  D.,  LL.  D 

2.  Prayer,  --------    By  Bishop  A.  Grant,  D.  D 

3.  Scripture  Lesson,    -.-'-.-         -  Bishop  B.  F.  Lee,  D.  D 

4.  Singing. — "  And  are  we  yet  Alive  "        -       Lined  b\r  W.  D.  Johnson,  D.  D 

5.  Reading  Ritual, Bishop  M.  B.  Salter,  D.  D 

6.  Prayer, By  Rev.  W.  H.  Hunter,  D.  D 

7.  Singing,  -        By  the  Choir. 

8.  Quadrennial. Sermon,  -        -      By  Bishop  B.  T.  Tanner,  D.  D.,  LL.  D 

9.  Celebration  of  the  Holy   Communion,   conducted    by    Bishop    J.    A 

Handy,  D.   D. 

Recess  until  3  o'clock  to  complete  organization  as  per  Discipline. 


SPECIAL  SERVICES, 


WEI*CO]V[E  ADDRESSES. 


Tuesday,  May  5th,  at  ten  o'clock,  a.  m. 

1 .  Welcome  Address  on  behalf  of  the  State.     By  the  Governor. 

2.  Welcome  Address  on  behalf  of  the  City.     By  Mayor,  W.  R.  Harris. 

3.  Welcome  Address  on  behalf  of  the  Second  Episcopal  District.     Bishop 

W.  J.  Gaines,  D.  D. 

4.  Welcome    Address   on  behalf  of  the  North  Carolina  Conference.     Rev. 

J.  W.  Telfair,  Wilmington;  N.  C. 

5.  Welcome  Address  on  behalf  of  St.  Stephen's  A.  M.  E.   Church.      Rev. 

E.  J.  Gregg. 

0      Welcome  Address  on  behalf  of  the  City   Churches.      By  Rev.   W.   M. 
Jackson. 


RESPONSIVE    ADDRESSES. 


First.— On  Behalf  of  the  Bishops.    Bishop  A.  Grant,  D.  D. 

Second.— On  behalf  of  the  General  Officers.     Rev.  J.  C.  Embry,  D.  D. 

Third.— On  behalf  of  the   Ministerial  Delegates.     Rev.  O.  P.  Ross,   D.    D., 
Mississippi. 

Fourth.— On  behalf  of  the   Lay    Delegates.      Prof.  T.  McCants  Stewart, 
New  York. 


MEMORIAL!  ADDRESSES. 


Wednesday,  May  6th,  at  ten  o'clock,  a.  m. 


BISHOP  JNO.  M.  BROWN,  D.  D.,  D.  C.  L. 

Addresses  by  Bishop  H.  M.  Turner,  D.  D.,LL.,D.,  and  Rev.  T.  A.  Thompson, 
D.  D.,  of  Chatanooga,  Tenn. 

SINGING   BY   THE   CHOIR. 

BISHOP  D.  A.  PAYNE,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

Addresses  by  Bishop  B.  F.  Lee,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  Chas.  Btmdy,  Cincinnati,  0. 

BI5H0P  T.  M.  D.  WARD,  D.  D. 

Addresses  by  Bishop  A.  Grant,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  J.  R.  Scott,  Jacksonville,  Fla 

BISHOP  A.  W.  WAYMAN,  D.  D. 

Addresses  by  Bishop  J.  A.  Handy,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  T.  W.  Henderson, 
Indianapolis,  Indiana. 

A  FIVE  MINUTES  ADDRESS  ON  BEHALF  OF  EACH  EPISCOPAL  DISTRICT. 

First  District,        -        -        -        -        -    Rev.  J.  M.  Palmer,  Philadelphia,  Pa 
Second  District,        ...        -  Rev.  E.  H.  Bolden,  Portsmouth,  Va 

Third  District,     -       -       -        Prest.  S.  T.  Mitchell,  L.  L.  D.,  Wilberforce,  0 
Fourth  District,       -        -        -        -  Rev.  J.  M.  Townsend,  D.  D.,  Chicago,  111 

Fifth  District, Rev.  C.  W.  Preston,  St.  Louis,  Mo 

Sixth  District, Rev.  C.  L.  Bradwell,   Atlanta,  Ga 

Seventh  District, Rev.  R.  E.  Wall,  Columbia,  S.  C 

Eighth  District, Rev.  T.  W.  Long,  Florida 

Ninth  District,        -  Rev.  T.  H.  Jackson,  Hot  Springs,  Ark 

Tenth  District,       -        -        -  Rev.  L.  H.  Reynolds,  Galveston,  Texas 

Eleventh  District, Rev.  Evans  Tyree,  Louisvile,  Ky 

Twelfth  District,  -        Rev.  W.  H.  H.  Butler,  D.  D.,  Detroit,  Michigan 


Zbe  Xitan?. 


The  Litany  may  be  used  on  General  Conference,  Annual  Conference  and 
such  other  occasions  as  may  be  deeemed  necessary  by  the  minister  and 
the  people  in  devotional  services. 

Minister.— 0  God,  the  Father  of  Heaven;  have  mercy  upon  us  miserable 
sinners. 

People. — 0  God,  the  Father  of  Heaven;  have  mercy  upon  us  miserable 
sinners. 

M. — 0  God,  the  Son,  Redeemer  of  the  world ;  have  mercy  upon  us  miser- 
able sinners. 

P. — 0  God,  the  Son,  Redeemer  of  the  world ;  have  mercy  upon  us  miser- 
able sinners. 

M. — 0  God,  the  Holy  Ghost,  proceeding  from  the  Father  and  the  Son; 
have  mercy  upon  us  miserable  sinners. 

P. — 0  God,  the  Holy  Ghost  proceeding  from  the  father  and  the  Son ;  have 
mercy  upon  us  miserable  sinners. 

M. — 0  Holy,  Blessed  and  Glorious  Trinity,  three  persons  and  one  God ; 
have  mercy  upon  us  miserable  sinners. 

P. — 0  Holy,  Blessed  and  Glorious  Trinity,  three  persons  and  one  God; 
have  mercy  upon  us  miserable  sinners. 

M. — Remember  not,  Lord,  our  offenses,  nor  the  offenses  of  our  forefath- 
ers; neither  take  thou  vengeance  of  our  sins.  Spare  us,  good  Lord,  spare 
thy  people,  whom  thou  hast  redeemed  with  thy  most  precious  blood,  and 
be  not  angry  with  us  forever. 

P. — Spare  us,  good  Lord. 

M. — From  all  evil  and  mischief;  from  sin ;  from  the  crafts  and  the  assaults 
of  the  devil;  from  thy  wrath,  and  from  everlasting  damnation. 

P. — Good  Lord,  deliver  us. 

M. — From  all  blindness  of  heart;  from  pride,  vain-glory,  and  hypocrisv; 
from  envy,  hatred  and  malice,  and  all  uncharitableness. 

P. — Good  Lord,  deliver  us. 


M. — From  all  inordinate  and  sinful  affection  ;  and  from  all  the  deceits  of 
the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil; 

P. — Good  Lord,  deliver  us. 

M. — From  lightning  and  tempest;  from  plague;  pestilence  and  famine 
from  battle  and  murder,  and  from  sudden  death, 

P. — Good  Lord,  deliver  us. 

M. — From  all  sedition,  privy  conspiracy,  and  rebellion  ;  from  all  false  doc- 
trine, heresy  and  schism ;  from  hardness  of  heart,  and  contempt  of  thy 
word  and  commandment ; 

P. — Good  Lord,  deliver  us. 

M. — By  the  mystery  of  th}r  holy  Incarnation ;  by  thy  holy  Nativity  and 
Circumcision  ;  by  thy  Baptism,  Fasting  and  Temptation  ; 

P. — Good  Lord,  deliver  us. 

M. — By  thine  agony  and  bloody  sweat ;  by  thy  cross  and  passion  ;  by  thy 
precious  Death  and  Burial;  by  thy  glorious  Resurrection  and  Ascension: 
and  by  the  coming  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 

P. — Good  Lord,   deliver  us. 

M. — In  all  time  of  our  tribulation,  in  all  time  of  our  prosperity ;  in  .the 
hour  of  death,  and  in  the  day  of  Judgment ; 

P. — Good  Lord,   deliver  us. 

M. — We  sinners  do  beseech  thee  to  hear  us,  0  Lord  God,  and  that  it  may 
please  thee  to  rule  and  govern  thy  holy  Church  universal  in  the  right  way. 

P. — We  beseech  thee  to  hear  us,  good  Lord. 

M. — That  it  may  please  thee  to  bless  and  preserve  all  Christian  rulers  and 
Magistrates;  giving  them  grace  to  execute  justice,  and  to  maintain  truth; 

P. — We  beseech  thee  to  hear  us,  good  Lord. 

M. — That  it  may  please  thee  to  illuminate  all  our  Bishops,  Elders  and 
Deacons,  with  true  knowledge  and  understanding  of  thy  word ;  and  that 
both  by  their  preaching  and  living  they  may  set  it  forth,  and  show  it 
accordingly ; 

P. — We  beseech  thee  to  hear  us,  good  Lord. 

M. — That  it  may  please  thee  to  bless  and  keep  all  thy  people ; 

P.— We  beseech  thee  to  hear  us,  good  Lord. 


10 

M.— That  it  may  please  thee,  good  Lord,  to  send  forth  laborers  into  thine 
harvest. 

P. — We  beseech  thee  to  hear  us,  good  Lord. 

M. — That  it  may  please  thee  to  give  all  nations  unity,  peace  and  concord  ; 

P. — We  beseech  thee  to  hear  us,  good  Lord. 

M.— That  it  may  please  thee  to  give  us  an  heart  to  love  and  fear  thee, 
and  diligently  to  love  thy  commandments. 

P. — We  beseech  thee  to  hear  us,  good  Lord. 

M. — That  it  may  please  thee  to  give  to  all  thy  people  increase  of  grace  ; 
to  hear  meekly  thy  word,  and  to  receive  it  with  pure  affection,  and  to  bring 
forth  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit ; 

P. — We  beseech  thee  to  hear  us,  good  Lord. 

M. — That  it  may  please  thee  to  bring  into  the  way  of  truth  all  such  as 
have  erred,  and  are  deceived  ; 

P. — We  beseech  thee  to  hear  us,  good  Lord. 

M. — That  it  may  please  thee  to  strengthen  such  as  do  stand,  and  to  com- 
fort and  help  the  weak-hearted  and  to  raise  up  those  who  fall,  and  finally 
to  beat  down  Satan  under  our  feet ; 

P. — We  beseech  thee  to  hear  us,  good  Lord. 

M. — That  it  may  please  thee  to  succor,  help  and  comfort  all  who  are  in 
danger,  necessity  and  tribulation ; 

P. — We  beseech  thee  to  hear  us,  good  Lord. 

M. — That  it  may  please  thee  to  preserve  all  who  travel  by  land  or  by 
water,  all  women  in  the  perils  of  child-birth,  all  sick  persons  and  young 
children,  and  to  show  thy  pity  upon  all  prisoners  and  captives; 

P. — We  beseech  thee  to  hear  us,  good  Lord. 

M.— That  it  may  please  thee  to  defend  and  provide  for  the  fatherless  ' 
children  and  widows,  and  all  who  are  desolate  and  oppressed; 

P. — We  beseech  thee  to  hear  us,  good  Lord. 

M. — That  it  may  please  thee  to  have  mercy  upon  all  men ; 

P.— We  beseech  thee  to  hear  us,  good  Lord. 

M. — That  it  may  please  thee  to  forgive  our  enemies,  persecutors  and  slan- 
derers, and  to  turn  their  hearts ; 


I\ — We  beseech  thee  to  hear  us,  good  Lord. 

M. — That  it  may  please  thee  to  give  and  preserve  to  our  use  the  kindly 
fruits  of  the  earth,  so  that  in  due  time  we  may  enjoy  them. 

P. — We  beseech  thee  to  hear  us,  good  Lord. 

M. — That  it  may  please  thee  to  give  us  true  repentance,  to  forgive  us  all 
our  sins,  negligence  and  ignorance,  and  to  endue  us  with  the  grace  of  thy 
Holy  Spirit,  to  amend  our  lives  according  to  thy  holy  word ; 

P. — We  beseech  thee  to  hear  us,  good  Lord. 

M. — Son  of  God,  we  beseech  thee  to  hear  us; 

P. — Son  of  God,  we  beseech  thee  to  hear  us. 

M. — 0  Lamb  of  God,  who  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world ; 

P. — Grant  us  thy  peace. 

M. — 0  Lamb  of  God  who  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world ; 

P. — Have  mercy  upon  us. 

M. — Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the  Son,  and  to  the  Holy  Ghost: 

P. — As  it  was  in  the  beginning,  is  now,  and  ever  shall  be,  world  without 
end,  Amen. 


12 


NUMBER  OF  ANNUAL  CONFERENCES   A^D 
DELEGATES  BY   DISTRICTS. 


FIRST 

DISTRICT 

Conference. 

Lay. 

Minis  VI. 

Philadelphia  .   . 

.    2      . 

.   .    4 

New  York  .   .   . 

.     2     . 

.   .    3 

New  England    . 

.    2      . 

.   .     2 

New  Jersey  .   .   . 

.    2      . 

.    .     3 

8  12 

SECOND    DISTRICT. 

Baltimore    ....  2 

Virginia 2 

N.  Carolina    ...  2      .   . 

W.  N.   Carolina  .  2      .   . 

8 

THIRD    DISTRICT. 

Ohio 2     .    . 

Pittsburgh      ...     2      .    . 
N.   Ohio 2     .   . 


FOURTH    DISTRICT. 

Indiana 2 

Illinois 2      .   . 

Iowa 2 

6 

FIFTH    DISTRICT. 


Missouri  .  . 
N.  Missouri 
Kansas  .  . 
Colorado     . 


20 


4 
4 
3 
3 

14     22 


3 
3 
3 

9      15 


15 


SIXTH    DISTRICT. 

Conference.  Lay. 

Georgia 2 

North  Georgia  .   .  2 

Macon,   Georgia  .  2 

Alabama 2 

North  Alabama  .  2 

Central  Alabama.  2 

12 


MinisVl. 
.  10 
.  9 
.11 
.  7 
.  4 
.     6 


SEVENTH    DISTRICT. 

South  Carolina  .  2  .  .  . 
Columbia,  S.  C  .  2  .  .  . 
N.  E.  So.  Carolina  2      .   .   . 


6 


EIGHTH    DISTRICT. 

Florida* 2     .   . 

East  Florida    .   .    2 
South  Florida  .   .     2      .   . 


NINTH    DISTRICT. 

Arkansas  ....  2 
South  Arkansas  .  2 
West  Arkansas  .  2 
Mississippi  ....  2 
North  Mississippi  2 
Middle  Mississippi  2 
Indian  Territory  .     2 

14 


TENTH    DISTRICT. 


47       59 


7 
8 

7 

22     28 


5 

5 

6 

16 

22 

11      19 


Texas    . 
West  Texas 


5 
4 
5 
4 
3 

33      47 


13 


Conference. 

Lay. 

MinisVL 

Northeast  Texas 

2 

.    4 

Central  Texas  . 

2      . 

.     3 

Louisiana    .   .   . 

2      . 

.    4 

North  Louisiana 

2      . 

.    3 

California    .    .   . 

2      . 

.     2 

Puget  Sound .    . 

2     . 

.    2 

16 

26     42 

ELEVENTH 

DISTRICT. 

Tennessee    .   .   . 

2        . 

.     8 

West  Tennessee 

2        . 

.     6 

Kentucky    .    .    . 

2      . 

.    3 

West  Kentucky 

2     . 

.     3 

8 

20     28 

TWELFTH    DISTRICT 

Conference. 
Michigan 
Ontario    . 


Nova  Scotia 
Bermuda  .  . 
Hayti  .  .  . 
San  Domingo 
Demerara  . 
Liberia  .  .  . 
Sierra  Leone 
St.  Thomas 


Lay. 
.  2 
.  2 
.  2 
.  2 
.  2 
,     2 

2 
,     2 

2 

2 

20 


Minist'L 

2 


2 

2 
2 
2 
2 

20      40 


RECAPITULATION. 

Bishops     8 

General  Officers 9 

Ministerial  Delegates 239 

Lay  Delegates 118 

Total 374 


14 


W 

P 

o 

Q 

< 
M 
H 

H 

o 

Til 

B 


J 

5 

GO 

os 

CO 

LO 

o 

3 

H 

H 

rH 

CM 

CM 

o- 

o 

* 

lO 

CD 

lO 

GO 

OS 

CO 

& 

■H 

03 

h! 

da    - 

• 

■2  oc 

tH 

CM 

TP 

10 

LO 

»> 

as 

tH 

rH 

tH 

H 

•H 

r- 

CM 

co 

CO 

r^ 

^ 

O  o 

o  a 

O  «> 

175 

w 

to 

cu 

S 

CJ 

rC 

t 

2 

+J 

w 
o 

5 

03 

fc 

03 
fe/l 

o3 

3 

0 

U 

O 

O 

C 

w 

CO 

,J3 

CJ 

0 

CJ 

03 
>— > 

3 

^ 

c 

S 

*i 

^> 

O 

CD 

tH 

FJ 

6 

S3 

X 

g 

CD 

H 

3 

T3 

3 
So 
w 
ft 
ft 

4 

u 

H 

'C 

& 

S3 

CD 

jj 

O 
B 

o 

CM 

CO 
H 

LO 

0 

•  CD 
C  CO 

0th 

en 
ft 

O 

<3 

< 

Td 

^ 

l-H 

PQ 

CO 

CM 

>^ 

03 

1~ 

CO 

PC 

00 

o? 

HI 

o 

g 

o3 

oj 

o3 

n 

2 

U 

T 

S 

CO 

,13 

*o3 
C 

Si 

(-1 

^3 

p 

u 

V- 

s 

CO 

p3 

_CJ 

CJ 

CJ 

5 

o 

CJ 

O 

C 

T3 

CO 

TD 

6 
2 

c 

.o 

o3 

Ph 

o 

.2 

"cd 

03 

aj 

o3 

c 

£ 

w 

ft 

o 

cd 

S3 
o 
u 

P^ 
.of 

IS 

Ph 
03* 

Ph 

"5 

T3 

P- 

"r 

w 

^o 

3 

CD 

3 

3 

O 

1!  H 

o 

'S   "£ 

T3 

Tj 

TD 

.§ 

'C 

5 

s^ 

a 

jjS 

^ 

"+J 

K 

^ 

DJO 

TD 

ft 

u 

r£ 

^3 

^3 

o3 

"£ 

3 

o 

Pu 

Pm 

Ph 

PQ 

PL 

2 

CD 

O 

^ 

GO 

<M 

CC 

rH 

CM 

CM 

CM 

co 

cc 

H 

CO 

GO 

GO 

GO 

CO 

a 

W 

rH 

rH 

tH 

H 

rH 

T- 

W 

, 

„ 

„ 

* 

§ 

CM* 

tH 

t> 

r~ 

ft 

o 

»-i 

tH 

CM 

r- 

o 

rH 

<M 

CN 

rH 

w 

ra 

>■» 

r»i 

r*i 

k> 

^ 

Cft 

< 

a3 

oj 

03 

o3 

09 

h 

s 

^ 

3 

3 

s 

15 


00 

00 
CO 

CM 

05 
CO 

05 
tH 
H 

CM 

O 
H 

H 

rH 

H 

CM 

CO 

CO 

X 

<* 

05 
CM 

CM 

O 

CO 

rH 

a 

CO 

rH 

05 

O 

05 

10 

rH 
H 

.    S3 

^  m 

S3 

fl 

fl    • 

d 

£ 

u 

cd 

AJ 

S3  a 

cd 
£ 

,r5 

cd 

M 

0 

cd 

o 

^  b 

u    >> 

CO 

J-i 

>*>  cd 

>-. 

+J 

cd 

r*i  t« 

Jh 

cd 

he 

c 

w 

6 

id 

cd   cd 
U  o 
■  -ffi 

§6 

Jd  ^cd  "p 
U  ^  cd 

cd 
U 

cd  cj 

cd 

o 

< 

o 
PQ 

|  opq 

<u  cd 

S^'pd 

i 

<tj« 

<i 

»-'- 

6 

<"  < 

<<* 

o 

CM 

^ 

10 

co 

X 

X 

H 

rH 

0Q 

co" 

co" 

Vh 

H 

rH 

S3 

cd 

S3    S3 

d 

cd 

a 

<u 

£ 

« 

c   . 

<u 

cd 

0 

5- 

PQ 

CO 

J-i 

cd 

w 

0  00 

Ml 
.3-2 

0*3 

(go- 

.S3  Ph 

g 

1 

g 
'3 

a 

cd 

Pm 

.  cc 

Ph 

0       K 

.  c3 

PI 
Ph 

cu 
g 

o 

O  cd 

Ph' 

3 

Ph'£ 

< 

Pm^ 

<5 

PhZ 

< 

'cd 

73 

§ 

ss 

S£ 

^ 

o 

££ 

Q 

^^ 

Q 

^ 

Q 

o 

.  T3 

, — " — , 

, — ■• — , 

<U 

S3     • 

•    g 

cd 

•*cd 

s  ' 

.'O 

>,^ 

T3 

•O 
cd    - 

cd 
Ph 

>H 

S3 

>^  cd 

0 

!5 

cd 

cd 

Ph 

cd  « 
>  ^ 

S 

.  0 

;cd 

5z5 

o 

Pw 

.s 

t>  cd 

o 

rS  'a 

15 

J-l 

cd 

be 

ft 

T3  «" 

3      . 

'oj 

O 

S3 

3 

■« 

3^ 
cd   N 
H  « 
aj  jo 
r3  cd 

"5 

GO    D 
S=3  '£ 

.5 

g 

JO 
CO 

4-> 
+-> 

^cd 

pq 

Ph 

£ 

U 

"£ 

Ph 

<^ 

o 

Tp 

X 

CM 

co 

o 

^ 

<$ 

T* 

•^ 

lO 

io 

CO 

co 

X 

00 

00 

X 

X 

X 

X 

H 

rH 

rH 

H 

rH 

rH 

rH 

TjT 

© 

co~ 

o" 

o 

id 

t-' 

H 

CM 

CN 

CM 

CM 

CM 

CM 

4 

CD 

H 

CO 

IO 

t"- 

CM 

CM 

>•» 

X 

t>, 

>, 

r-i 

!>> 

t* 

tf 

3 

cd 
3 

cd 

cd 

cd 

cd 

3 

cd 

16 


o 

O 

4-> 

(J) 

W 

w 
o 
< 

.5 

< 

C3 

3 
SO 

o 

2 

J3 

E^ 

►— - 

2 

o 

00 

CM 

z 

CD 

J> 

H 

00 

00 

W 

7-1 

tH 

W 

S 

CO 
CM 

CM 

0 

^ 

CD 

s 

& 

H 

£ 

a 

00 


c^  d 


■r 

: 

& 

■■/■■■                ■■.:'■.- 

*%» 

tjK4   i                                *  m 

1. :■..■■•'  '-'■■■ 

fl^*^ .        ^j^r 

\ 

4  *  -    * 

\ 

ag^^g^ 

i*s 

BISHOP  JAMES  A.  HANDY,  D.  D. 

Born  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  December  22nd,  1826. 
Ordained  Bishop,  May  19th,  1892. 


17 


CO 

CO 

LO 

DO 

GO      ■ 

Ol 

tH 

H 

tN 

. 

. 

H 

o 

O 

t* 

10 

iO 

S      S      -      «      ° 
« .£,3  ct'T/o  £  ?  *> 


so   ■•■•» 

X  +J   X 


^3^.1  = 


a  °  £ 
5  wj  fa 

Ifl    O  •  3.    O- 

<3    X  ~    O      •    d<_  Jjj 

-    X    CS    cC    : 


05 


•  z 


5  ^  3  ^  -o  J=  <U  £ 


(VJ  <<  *-J 


P5  hh  1— i<h  >-H  c-*  i-S  1— -5 


S2  _        T3  o 

us^>  s«o  . 
g  ^.p^t!^  £  £^  3 
5'*  5  2   •  o '  s-.Si-g 

^  ew  &;  q  ^  ?  ^  w 


£»,  S  s  ^  g  §  s 


^  S  S  ^  « 


3  £  ^ 


-  i!  <u  53 
fa.S  c 


<  H  ^3  £  qq"  pq  << 


3  5/2^*3 
-  '-«  &  .  3 

ej   a   1-.  >-m  ,3. 


™  X 


~<! 


£    .0  -a 


•  3         v-i    53 

•— . ,  v-  ^  _ 


Ph 


a;   (KS'O 

•  as 

"31  w     . 
PQ^5, 


2 


18 

BISHOPS  AMD  GB]SlBRALi  OFFICERS,    1896. 


Bishop  H.  M.  Turner,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Atlanta,  Georgia.    Twelfth  and 
Ninth  Districts. 

Bishop  W.  J.  Gaines,  D.  D.,  Atlanta,  Georgia.    Second  and  part  of  the 
Eleventh  District. 

Bishop  B.  W.  Arnett,  D.  D.,  Wilberforce,  Ohio.     Third  and  part  of  the 
Fourth  District. 

Bishop  B.  T.  Tanner,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Philadelphia,  Pa.    First  District. 

Bishop  Abram  Grant,   D.   D.,    Atlanta,  Georgia.       Sixth  and  Eighth 
Districts. 

Bishop  B.  F.  Lee,  D.  D.,  Ph.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Waco,  Texas.    Tenth  District. 

Bishop  M.  B.  Salter,  D.  D.,  Columbia,  S.  C.    Seventh  and  part  of  the 
Eleventh  District. 

Bishop  J.  A.  Handy,  D.  D.,   Kansas  City,  Kansas.    Fifth  and  part   of 
the  P'ourth  District. 

-  Rev.  J.  C.  Embry,  D.  D.,  General  Business  Manager,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Rev.  H.  T.  Johnson,  D.  D.,  Ph.  D.,   Editor  of  "Christian  Recorder," 
Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Rev.  L.  J.  Coppin,   D.  D.,  Editor  of  "  A.  M.  E.  Review,"  Philadelphia, 
Pa. 

Rev.  C.  S.  Smith,  D.  D.,  M,  D.,.  Secretary  of  Sunday-school  Union,  Nash- 
ville, Tenn. 

Rev.  A.  M.  Green,  D.  D.,  Editor  of  "Southern  Christian  Recorder," 
New  Orleans,  La. 

Rev.  W.  B.  Derrick,  D.  D.,  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  Secretary, 
Flushing,  Long  Island,  N.  Y. 

Rev.  J.  H.  Armstrong,  D.  D.,  Financial  Secretary,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Rev.   C.  T.   Shaffer,   M.  D.,  D.  D.,  Secretary  of  Church   Extension, 
Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Rev.  W.  D.  Johnson,  D.  D.,  Educational  Secretary,  Athens,  Georgia. 

first  educational  district: 

Prest.  S.  T.  Mitchell,  LL.  D.,  Secretar}',  Wilberforce,  Ohio. 

second  educational  district: 

Prof.  J.  R.  Hawkins,   Kittrell,  North  Carolina. 

THIRD    EDUCATIONAL    DISTRICT: 

Rev.  R.  B.  Brookins,  Secretary,  Tallehassee,  Florida. 

FOURTH    EDUCATIONAL    DISTRICT: 

Rev.  A.  A.  Williams,   Secretary,   Pine  Bluff,   Arkansas. 

FIFTH    EDUCATIONAL    DISTRICT: 

Rev.  J.  W.  Braxton,  Secretary,   Kansas  City,  Kansas, 


LIST  OF  DELEGATES  TO  GENERAL  CONFERENCE 

AS  FAR  AS  REPORTED. 


PHILADELPHIA. 

DELEGATES. 

J.  A.  Johnson  .  .  .  Germantown,  Pa 
J.  M.  Palmer  ....  Philadelphia,  Pa 
Theodore  Gould  .  .  Philadelphia,  Pa 
W.  H.  Davis    .    .    .     Philadelphia,  Pa 

LAYMEN. 

W.  H.  Miller  .  .  .  Philadelphia,  Pa 
F.  P.  Mains  .    .        .    Philadelphia,  Pa 

NEW  YORK. 

DELEGATES. 
R.  H.  Shirley    .    .    .    Coxsackie,  N.  V 
J.  M.  Henderson    .    .    Brooklyn,  N.  Y 
F.  F.  Giles    ....   Cambridge,  Mass 

LAYMEN. 

T.  McCants  Stewart  .  Brooklyn,  N.  Y 
Frederick  Savage  .    .  New  York,  N.  Y 

NEW  ENGLAND. 

DELEGATES. 

W.  H.  Thomas  .  .  .  Providence,  R.  I 
D.  P.  Roberts Boston,  Mass 

LAYMEN. 

W.  H.  Thomas  ....  Boston,  Mass 
Thomas  R.  Glasco  .    .    .  Boston,  Mass 

ALTERNAE    LAYMEN. 

J.  R.  Camon 

W.  H.  Dickerson 

MINISTERIAL   ALTERNATES 

R.  F.  Hurly  ....  Springfield.  Mass 
C.  C.  Felts,  died  February,  1896. 

NEW  JERSEY. 

DELEGATES. 

I.  W.  L.  Roundtree  .  .  Trenton,  N.  J 
A.  H.  Newton  ....  Camben,  N.  J 
J.  S.  Thompson    .    Atlantic  City,  N.  J 

LAYMEN. 
Benjamin  Ray    .    .  Atlantic  City,  N.  J 
J.  W.  Shockley  .    .  Asbury  Park,  N.  J 

BALTIMORE. 

DELEGATES. 

J.  W.  Beckett,  H4.Central-st,  Baltimore 
Daniel  P.  Seaton  .  Washington,  D.  C 
J.  H.  Collett,  1361  Calhoun,  Baltimore 
I.  S.  Lee,  18  Montgomery  .    Baltimore 

LAYMEN. 

John  T.  Layton  .  .  Washington,  D.  C 
John  H.  Murphy  .    .    .  Baltimore,  Md 

VIRGINIA. 

DELEGATES. 

A.  L.  Gaines Norfolk,  Va 

Elias  H.  Bolden  .  .  Portsmouth,  Va 
W.  H.  Hunter  .    .    .  Annacosta,  D.  C 


Geo.  D.  Jimmerson  .    .  Smithfield,  Va 

LAYMEN. 
L.  R.  Johnson    ....  Richmond,  Va 
Wilson  F.  Foreman  .    .    .  Norfolk,  Va 

NORTH  CAROLINA. 

DELEGATES. 

W.  H.  Caphart  .  .  Wilmington,  N.  C 
E.  J.  Gregg  ....  Wilmington,  N.  C 
J.  W.  Telfair  .    .    .  Wilmington,  N.  C 

LAYMEN. 

H.  Brown  ....  Wilmington,  N.  C 
J.  A    Smith     .    .    .    Wilmington,  N.  C 

WEST  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

DELEGATES. 

R.  H.  W.  Leak    .    .    .    Raleigh,  N.  C 

C.  H.  King Raleigh,  N.  C 

F!  P.  Greenlea   .    .    Wilmington,  N.  C 

LAYMEN.  ■ 

J.  R.  Hawkins  ....  Kittrell,  N.  C 
G.  A.  Gerran  .    .    .    Greensboro,  N.  C 

OHIO. 

DELEGATES. 

Charles  Bundy    ....    Cincinnati,  O 

J.  E.  Gilmere Cincinnati,  O 

W.  J.  Johnson  .    .  -.    .    .  Columbus,  O 

LAYMEN. 

Job  B.  Johnson  ....  Columbus,  O 
J.  P.  Maxwell   ....  Wilberforce,  O 

ALTERNATE  LAYMEN. 

J.  P.  Shorter    ....    Wilberforce,  O 

ALTERNATE  MINISTERIAL. 

J.  H.  Artope Chillicothe,  O 

J.  G.  Mitchell  ....  Wilberforce,  O 
J.  H.  Jones Columbus,  O 

PITTSBURGH, 

DELEGATES. 

D.  S.  Bentley    ....    Alleghany,  Pa 

C.  Asbury Pittsburgh,  Pa 

I.  N.  Ross Pittsburgh,  Pa 

MINISTERIAL    ALTERNATES. 

W.  H.  Brown  .  .  New  Brighton,  Pa 
W.  H.  Palmer  .  Monongahela  City,  Pa 
Charles  A.  McGhee    .    .    Scranton,  Pa 

LAYMEN , 
Christian  Patterson    .  Washington,  Pa 
Walter  E.  Billows    .    .     Pittsburgh,  Pa 

LAY  ALTERNATES. 

L.  H.  Wright  .  ,  Cannonsburgh,  Pa 
Charles  Hickey  .    .    .  Waynesburg,  Pa 

NORTH  OHIO. 

DELEGATES. 

Thos.  W.  Anderson  ....  Toledo,  O 


20 


R.  C.  Ransom Cleveland,  O 

J  no.  W.  Gazaway  .    .    .  Springfield,  O 

LAYMEN. 

John  W.  Greene  ....  Cleveland,  O 
Samuel  T.  Mitchell  .    .  Wilberforce,  O 

ALTERNATES. 

George  H.  Price Dayton,  O 

INDIANA. 

DELEGATES. 

T.  W.  Henderson  .  Indianapolis,  Ind 
Alexander  Smith  .  .  Indianapolis, find 
A.  L.  Murray  .    .    .   Indianapolis,  Ind 

LAYMEN. 

W.  F.  Floyd    .    .    .    Indianapolis,  Ind 

A.  Dumas  Delany    .    .    .  Franklin  Ind 

ILLINOIS. 

DELEGATES. 

N.  J.  McCracken     ....  Quincy,  III 

[.  S.  Woods Quincy,  111 

W.  H.  Chambers    ....    Quincy,  111 

LAYMEN. 

John  Powell Illinois 

John  L.  Turnbow  ......  Illinois 

IOWA. 

DELEGATES. 

J.  M.  Townsend  ....  Chicago,  III 
S.  A.  Hardison  ....  Danville,  111 
G.  W.  Gaines Chicago,  III 

LAYMEN. 

John  L    Neal    .    .     Minneapolis,  Minn 

J.  A.  Harper,  2957  Dearborn,  Chicago 

MISSOURI. 

DELEGATES. 

C.  W.  Preston  ....  St.  Louis,  Mo 
C.  W.  Lewis  .  .  .  Independence,  Mo 
S.  J.  Brown Springfield,  Mo 

LAYMEN. 

J.  H.  Jenkins    .    .    Independence,  Mo 

H.  H.  Bolton St.  Louis,  Mo 

NORTH  MISSOURI. 

DELEGATES. 

F  J.  Peck Quindoro,  Kan 

J.  F.  McDonald  .  .  Macon  City,  Mo 
C.  R.  Runyon    ....    Hannibal,  Mo 

LAYMEN. 

W.  B.  Perkins 

O.  H.  Winston 

KANSAS. 

DELEGATES. 

Geo.  H.  Shaffer  .  .  .  McCluth,  Kan 
James  W.  Wilson  .  Kansas  City,  Kan 
J.  C.  C.  Owens   ....   Topeka,  Kan 

LAYMEN. 

J.  H.  Glover 

Ezekiel  Ridley 


ALTERNATE   LAYMEN. 

A.  Allen 1 

T.  H.  Johnson 

MINISTERIAL   ALTERNATES. 

M.  Collins  ....  Kansas  City,  Kan 
A.  M.  Ward  ....  Burlington,  Kan 
N.  C.  Bruen     ....    Lawrence,  Kan 

COLORADO. 

DELEGATE. 

P.  A.  Hubbard Denver,  Col 

J.  W.  Sexton Denver,  Col 

LAYMEN. 

H.  C.  Jefferson  .  .  .  Cheyenne,  Wyo 
P.  E.  Spratding    ....    Denver,  Col 

GEORGIA. 

DELEGATES. 

R.  R.  Downs Savannah,  Ga 

T.  N.  M.  Smith  .  .  .  Savannah,  Ga 
S.  D.  Roseborough    .    .    Cuthbevt,  Ga 

E.  Lowrey Albany,  Ga 

W.  H.  Wells   ....  Fort  Gaines,  Ga 

J.  A.  Woods Waycross,  Ga 

I.  S.  Hamilton    .    .     Hawkinsville,  Ga 

|.  B.  Lofton Columbus,  Ga 

W.  D.  H.  Porter   .    .  Thomasviller  Ga 

0.  P.  Sherman    ....  Savannah,  Ga 

LAYMEN. 

D.  [.  Jordon  ....  Jacksonville,  Fla 
T.  W.  McCather    ....   Albany,  Ga 

MACON. 

DELEGATES. 

C.  C.  Cargyle Atlanta,  Ga 

W.  Newman Macon,  Ga 

A.  Cooper Americus,  Ga 

C.  L.  Bradwell Atlanta,  Ga 

F.  T.  Boddie   ....  Fort  Valley,  Ga 

W.  C.  Gaines Macon,  Ga 

R.  L.  Lawson Midway,  Ga 

A.  B.  B.  Gibson Macon,  Ga 

E.  P.  Holmes Macon,  Ga 

L.  H.  Smith Savannah,  Ga 

D.  J.  Lawrence    .    .    .    Talbottom,  Ga 

LAYMEN. 

A.  W.  Shaw 

W.  L.  Hollis 

ALABAMA. 

DELEGATES. 

H.  C.  Calhoun 

1.  N.  Fitzpatrick  .  .  Montgomery,  Ala 
S.  L  Mims  ....  Montgomery,  Ala 
J.  M.  Goodloe  .  .  .  Montgomery,  Ala 
A.  W.  Fickland  .  .  Montgomery,  Ala 
J.  M.  Harris  .  .  .  Montgomery,  Ala 
M.  Davidson    .    .    .    Montgomeiy,  Ala 


21 


LAYMEN. 
J.  S.  Morgan    .    .    .    Montgomery,  Ala 
Chas.  C.  Fryer 

NORTH  ALABAMA.. 

DELEGATES. 

T.  H.  Goodman  ......... 

N.  L.  Edmonson 

W.  C.  Banton 

T.  W,  Coffee ,        ... 


NORTH  GEORGIA. 

DELEGATES. 

E,  W.  Lee Macon,  Ga 

D.  T.  Green Atlanta,  Ga 

A.  S.  Jackson  ....  Cartersville,  Ga 

J.  S.  Flipper Atlanta,  Ga 

J.  A.  Lindsay Griffin,  Ga 

L.  D   Thomas Atlanta,  Ga 

R.  M    Cheeks Rome,  Ga 

C.  M.  Manning  .    .    .  Washington,  Ga 

E.  A.  Shepard Marietta,  Ga 

LAYMEN. 

Andrew  Wright  ....  A'lanta,  Ga 
William  Dunston    .    .    .    Newman,  Ga 

CENTRAL  ALABAMA. 
Rev.  L.  Gardner 

F.  B.  Moorland 

A.  W.  Atwater   .    .    .  Uniontown,  Ala 

A.  A.  Goodwin 

R.  D.  Brooks 

W.   H.  Mixon Selma,  Ala 

laymem. 

S.  G.  Jones 

E.  W.  Stone Selma,  Ala 

SOUTH   CAROLINA. 

DELEGATES. 

J.  H.  Welch  ....  Charleston,  S.  C 
L.  R.  Nichols  .  .  .  Charleston,  S.  C 
W.  W.  Becket  .  .  .  Charleston,  S.  C 
S  W.  Bellamy  .  .  Lincolnville,  S.  C 
P.  W.  Jefferson  .  .  .  Charleston,  S.  C 
W.  B.  Sterrit  ....  Charleston,  S.  C 
S.  Washington    .    .    .  Charleston,  S.  C 

LAYMEN. 

Z.  D.  Greene  .....  Georgetown 
J.  W.  Price 

COLUMBIA,  SOUTH  CAROLINA. 

DELEGATES. 

Hiram  Young Almo,  S.  C 

R.  E.  Wall Columbia,  S.  C 

C.  P.  Nelson    ....    Columbia,  S.  C 

G.  T.  Coleman    .    .    .    Columbia,  S.  C 

R.  C.  Irwin 

J.  W.jLykes    ....   Greenville,  S.  C 

C.  L.   Archey 

D.  T.  McDaniel  .    .    .  Abbyville,  S.  C 


LAYMEN. 

J.  W.  Morris  ....  Columbia,  S.  C 
C.  H.  Jones Columbia,  S.  C 

NORTHEAST  SOUTH  CAROLINA 

DELEGATES. 

W.  D.  Chappelle    .    .*   Columbia,  S.  C 

S.  F.  Flegler Marion,  S.  C 

J.  C.  Sampson  ....  Sumpter,  S.  C 
W.  M.  Thomas  .    .    Orangeburg,  S.  C 

L.  R.  Miller 

A.  W.  Haywood 

J.  A.  Hunter 

LAYMEN. 

W.  J  Andrews  ....  Sumpter,  S.  C 
T.  T.  Hilton 

FLORIDA. 

DELEGATES. 

A.  J.  Kershaw  .  .  .  Tallehassee,  Fla 
Thos.  Moorer  ....  Tallehassee,  Fla 
S.  S.  Herndon  .  .  .  Tallehassee,  Fla 
E.  W.  Johnson  .  .  Appalachicola,  Fla 
J.  T.  Marks  .        ...  Monticello,  Fla 

LAYMEN. 

W.  G.  B  Kinlowe,  Appalachicola,  Fla 
R.  W.  Matthews    .    .    .  Pensacola,  Fla 

EAST  FLORIDA. 

DELEGATES 

S.H.Coleman,  1 285  King  Roads,  Jackson 
John  R.  Scott  .  .  .  Jacksonville,  Fla 
D    W.  Gilleslee    .    .    Jacksonville,  Fla 

A.  B.  Dudley Stark,  Fla 

T.  F.  Ganes Palatka,  Fla 

LAWMEN. 

E.  I.  Alexander  ....  Madison,  Fla 
Jase  McLean    .    .    .St.  Augustine,  Fla 

SOUTH   FLORIDA. 

DELEGATES. 

G.  B.  Hills 

M.  M.  Moore Orlando,  Fla 

S.  H.   Hadley 

J.  W.  Dukes Herdan,  Fla 

A.  A.  Fleming 

T.  W.  Long 

LAYMEN. 

A.  E.  Clark 

G.  C.  Henderson  .    .  Winter  Park,  Fla 

MISSISSIPPI. 
O.  W.  Childs   .    .    .    Port  Gibson,  Miss 
J.  W.  Watson    ....    Grenada,  Miss 
W.  R.  Carson    .    .    .     Woodville,  Miss 
H.  M.  Foley Jackson,  Miss 

LAYMEN. 

L.  W.  Manaway  .  .  .  Jackson,  Miss 
M.  P.  F.  Williams  .  Brookhaven,  Miss 


22 


NORTH  MISSISSIPPI. 

DELEGATES. 

E.  W.  Lampton  .  .  Greenville,  Miss 
J.  Jones  ......  Forest  City,  Ark 

D.  M.  Mitchell  .  .  West  Point,  Miss 
S.  W.  White  ....  Vicksburg,  Miss 
R.  C.  Holbrook    .    .  West  Paint,  Miss 

LAYMEN. 

C.   Banks 

MIDDLE  MISSISSIPPI. 

DELEGATES. 

W.  F.  Dangerfield  .    .  Vicksburg,  Miss 

E.  A.  Carter  ....  Senatobia,  Miss 
J.  H.  D.  Robinson  .  Yazoo  City,  Miss 
O.  P.  Ross Natchez,  Miss 

LAYMEN. 

W.  Burns 

J.  R.  Burns 

ARKANSAS. 

DELEGATES. 

P.  W.  Wade  ....  Little  Rock,  Ark 
J.  C.  Jones  ....  Forest  City,  Ark 
T.  H.  Jackson  .  .  .  Hot  Springs,  Ark 
J.  M.  Murchison  .  .  Little  Rock,  Ark 
J.  E.  Neal  ....  Jonesborough,  Ark 
J.  W.  Walker   .    .    .    Fort  Smith,  Ark 

LAYMEN. 

W.  E.  Duncom  .  .  .  Forest  City,  Ark 
J.   R.  Roily  ....    Edwardson,  Ark 

SOUTH  ARKANSAS. 

DELEGATES. 

H.  H.  King Pine  Bluff,  Ark 

J.  W.  Whiteside  .% .  .  Pine  Bluff,  Ark 
A.  A.   Williams  .  *.    .    .    Helena,  Ark 

E.  Brown Camden,  Ark 

J.  I.   Lowe  ....    Arkadelphia,  Ark 

F.  Carolina  ....    Little  Rock,  Ark 

LAYMEN. 

J.  M.  Alexander  ....  Helena,  Ark 
A.  B.  Crump  ....    Pine  Bluff,  Ark 

WEST  ARKANSAS. 

DELEGATES. 

J.  M.  Conner  .  .  .  Little  Rock,  Ark 
W.  A.  J.  Phillips  .    .  Little  Rock,  Ark 

W.  H.  Jones Prescott,  Ark 

S.   Berry Hot  Springs,  Ark 

G.  G.   Bakes Magnolia,  Ark 

LAYMEN. 

S.  T.  Boyd Prescott,  Ark 

A.  J.  Moore    ....    Texarkana,  Ark 

INDIAN  TERRITORY. 

DELEGATES. 

E.  M.  Argyle Guthrie,  Ok 

M.  D.  Brookins    .    S.  McAllister,  I.  T 


G.  A.  L.  Dykes    .    .    .  Muscogee,  I.  T 

LAYMEN. 

J.  A.  Jarrett Guthrie,  Ok 

J.  W.  Hamilton    .  Oklahomo  City,  Ok 

LOUISIANA. 

DELEGATES. 

G.  E.  Taylor  .  .  .  New  Orleans,  La 
J.  D.  Haynes,  S.  Water-st,  New  Orleans 
J.  W.  Washington  .  Baton  Rouge,  La 
T.  A.Wilson,  316  Miro-st,  New  Orleans 

NORTH    LOUISIANA. 

DELEGATES. 

J.  B.  Webb Delhi,  La 

J.  W.  Elbert Royville,  La 

J.  W.  Lampton Delhi,  La 

LAYMEN. 

E.  W.  Lindsay 

A.  Z.  Jones 

TEXAS. 

DELEGATES. 

J.  P.  Howard  ....  Houston,  Texas 
L.  H.  Reynolds  .  .  Galveston,  Texas 
J.  G.  Grimes  ....  Palestine,  Texas 
J.  W.  Rankin  ....  Houston,  Texas 

LAYMEN. 

M.  W.  Lawson  ....  Willis,  Texas 
W.  R.  Roberts    .    .    .  Palestine,  Texas 

WEST  TEXAS. 

DELEGATES. 

B.  W.  Roberts  .  San  Antonio,  Texas 
R.  Deal  ....  Harris  Springs,  Texas 
R.  S.  Jenkins  .  .  San  Antonio,  Texas 
W.  R.  Beamer  .    .  San  Antonio,  Texas 

LAYMEN. 
W.  L.  Jarmon 

C.  O.  Hunter    ....    Bastrop,  Texas 

NORTHEAST  TEXAS. 

DELEGATES. 

William  Leake    ....     Ennis,  Texas 

D.  C.  Moody Dallas,  Texas 

C.  A.  Harris Mexia,  Texas 

P.  C.   Hunt Dallas,  Texas 

LAYMEN. 

J.  Lanier Corsicana,  Texas 

W.  D.  Cain Mineola,  Texas 

CENTRAL  TEXAS. 

DELEGATES. 

A.  G.  Scott Houston,  Texas 

T.  C.  Denham Waco,  Texas 

J.  R.  Bryant  ......  Waco,  Texas 

LAYMEN. 
II.  T.  Keeling Waco,  Texas 

B.  F.   Fifer  .....  Hanover,  Texas 


23 


CALIFORNIA. 

DELE 

>ATES. 

E 

T. 

Cottman    . 

San  Francisco,  Cal 

h 

E. 

Edward  s  . 

.    .    .    Oakland,  Cal 

LAYMEN. 

J- 
J- 

W 

M 

Bridges  .    . 

PUGET  SOUND.       ■ 

DELEGATES. 

G 

C. 
M 

Clark  .    .    . 

IT 

LAYMEN. 

T. 

E. 

Rushenbow 

IT 

.  P 

TENNESSEE. 

DELEGATES. 

J. 

A. 

Davis    .    .    . 

.    Nashville, 

Tenn 

Bedford  Green    .    . 

.    Nashville, 

Tenn 

B. 

A. 

J.  Nixon    . 

.    Shelbyville, 

Tenn 

T. 

A. 

Thompson  . 

Chattanooga, 

Tenn 

T. 

T. 

Gilmore    .    . 

.    Cleveland, 

Tenn 

H 

.  D 

.  Canady    .    . 

.    Nashville, 

Tenn 

G 

L. 

Jackson    .    . 

.    Nashville, 

Tenn 

S. 

R. 

Reid   .    .    . 

'.    .  Nashville, 

Tenn 

LAYMEN. 

W.  H.  Key  ....  Shelbyville,  Tenn 
J.  R.  Fleming    .    .    .    Columbia,  Tenn 

WEST  TENNESSEE. 

DELEGATES. 

P.  W.  Walls     ....  Memphis, 
.  Memphis, 


D.  E.  Asbury  . 
J.  N.  Abby  .  . 
W.  A.  Lewis  . 
G.  W.  Porter  . 
S.  W.  Walker  . 


.  Memphis, 

.  Memphis, 

Clarkesville, 

Clarkesville, 


Tenn 
Tenn 
Tenn 
Tenn 
Tenn 
Tenn 

Tenn 
Tenn 


LAYMEN. 

William  Porter    .    .    .  Memphis, 

A.  R.  Merry Jackson, 

KENTUCKY. 

DELEGATES. 

J.  M.  Turner Frankfort,  Ky 

A.H.Ross Frankfort,  Ky 

J.   W.  Frazier    ....  Frankfort,  Ky 

LAYMEN. 

J.  C.  Jackson    ....  Lexington,  Ky 
WEST  KENTUCKY. 

DELEGATES. 

E.  Tyree Louisville,  Ky 

B.  F.  Porter Louisville,  Ky 

G.  H.  Burks  .    .    .    ....  Paducah,  Ky 

MICHIGAN. 

DELEGATES. 

B.  F.  Watson Detroit,  Mich 

J.  D.  Barksdale  .    .    .  Ypsilanti,  Mich 


LAYMEN. 

JohnJWesley  Topp,322  Erskine,  Detroit 
C.  A.  Pinkney,  62  8th  av. ,  Grand  Rapids 

ALTERNATES. 

C.  W.  Johnson  .    .    .    Ypsilanti,  Mich 
Jas.  Butler  ....  Battle  Creek,  Mich 

MINISTERIAL    ALTERNATES. 

G.  A.  Collins  .    .    .    Windsor,  Ontario 

A.    Cottman  .    .    Grand  Rapids,  Mich 

NOVA  SCOTIA. 

DELEGATES. 

Alex.  Hersey  .    .    .    Woodstock,  N.  B 
H.  B.  Brown  .    .    .Halifax,  N.  Scotia 

LAYMEN. 

W.   Jones  ....    Halifax,   N.  Scotia 
N.  Mclntyre,  Woodstock, N.Brunswick 

ALTERNATEL. 

M.  W.  Lamson  .....  Nova  Scotia 

W.  R.  Roberts Nova  Scotia 

ONTARIO. 

DELEGATES. 

W.  H.  H.  Butler    .    .    .  Detroit,  Mich 
W.  P.  Bradley  ....  Hamilton,  Ont 

Jas.  Porter,  deceased 

SIERRA  LEONE. 

DELEGATES. 

J.  R.  Frederick,  Freetown, Sierra  Leone 

H.  B.  Parker    .    .    .     Kansas  City,  Mo 

LIBERIA. 

DELEGATES. 
W.  H.  Heard,  Monrovia, Liberia,  W.  A 

A.  L.  Ridgel,  Monrovia, Liberia,  W.  A 

MINISTERIAL  ALTERNATES. 

T.  W.  Thurston    .    .    .    Brynmawr,  Pa 
BERMUDA. 

DELEGATES. 

C.  W.  Dunlap  .    .  Hamilton,  Bermuda 
J.  W.  Skerrett  .    Shelly  Bay,  Bermuda 

LAYMEN. 

B.  Richardson  .  St.  David's,  Bermuda 

C.  Fubler    .    .    .     Hamilton,  Bermuda 

SAN  DOMINGO 

DELEGATES. 

H.  C.  C.  Astwood  .    .  Harrisburg,  Pa 
J.   P.  Sampson  .    .    .  Philadelphia,  Pa 

LAYMEN. 
C.  H.  J.  Taylor  .    .  Washington,  D.  C 

HAYTI. 

DELEGATES. 

John  Herst,  1 527  Jeff'sn, Baltimore, Md 

T.  G.  Steward  .    .  Fort  Monsula,  Mon 

DEMERARA. 

DELEGATES. 

Reuben  A.  Sealy,  Bridgetown,  Barb'ds 
John  T.  Jenifer  .  Washington,  D.  C  , 


w 


1 


